Saudi Arabia’s real estate price index up 1.5% in Q3 due to rise in residential rates

While residential real estate prices increased by 2.5 percent fueled by a 2.6 percent rise in land plot prices, other sub-sectors such as commercial and agricultural real estate saw a marginal fall in the prices. (Shutterstock)
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Updated 19 October 2022
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Saudi Arabia’s real estate price index up 1.5% in Q3 due to rise in residential rates

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Real Estate Price Index increased by 1.5 percent in the third quarter of 2022 compared to the same period last year, primarily driven by an increase in residential properties, the latest data from General Authority for Statistics revealed.

While residential real estate prices increased by 2.5 percent fueled by a 2.6 percent rise in land plot prices, other sub-sectors such as commercial and agricultural real estate saw a marginal fall in the prices, resulting in a dampening effect on the general index. 

According to the GASTAT report, commercial and agricultural real estate prices recorded a fall of 0.4 percent and 0.6 percent respectively. 

The report noted that the prices of villas increased by 0.2 percent, while apartments rose by 1 percent. 

On the other hand, house prices decreased by 0.7 percent, while the prices of residential buildings were stable and did not record any significant relative change, GASTAT added in the report. 

The report further said that the drop in commercial real estate prices happened due to a fall in commercial land plots prices by 0.4 percent. 

Agricultural real estate prices also decreased due to the drop of 0.6 percent in agricultural land prices.

On a quarterly basis, the General Real Estate Price Index rose 0.3 percent in the third quarter of this year, showed the report. 

This growth was backed by a 0.4 increase in residential real estate prices as land plots prices rose. 

The report added that apartment prices also saw an increase of 0.9 percent in the third quarter of 2022, and commercial real estate prices saw a modest 0.2 percent increase as commercial plots and centers increased. 

Conversely, villa and house prices fell by 1.5 and 0.3 percent respectively last quarter while residential buildings remained steady. 

The report further documented a fall in the prices of exhibitions by 0.1 percent whereas commercial buildings stood firm.

Additionally, the agricultural sector did not show any notable change in the third quarter of 2022 compared to the second. 

 


Silver crosses $77 mark while gold, platinum stretch record highs

Updated 27 December 2025
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Silver crosses $77 mark while gold, platinum stretch record highs

  • Spot silver touched an all-time high of $77.40 earlier today, marking a 167% year-to-date surge driven by supply deficits
  • Spot platinum rose 9.8% to $2,437.72 per ounce, while palladium surged 14 percent to $1,927.81, its highest level in over 3 years

Silver breached the $77 mark for the first time on Friday, while gold and platinum hit record highs, buoyed by expectations of US Federal Reserve rate cuts and geopolitical tensions that fueled safe-haven demand.

Spot silver jumped 7.5% to $77.30 per ounce, as of 1:53 p.m. ET (1853 GMT), after touching an all-time high of $77.40 earlier today, marking a 167% year-to-date surge driven by supply deficits, its designation ‌as a US ‌critical mineral, and strong investment inflows.

Spot gold ‌was ⁠up ​1.2% at $4,531.41 ‌per ounce, after hitting a record $4,549.71 earlier. US gold futures for February delivery settled 1.1% higher at $4,552.70.

“Expectations for further Fed easing in 2026, a weak dollar and heightened geopolitical tensions are driving volatility in thin markets. While there is some risk of profit-taking before the year-end, the trend remains strong,” said Peter Grant, vice president and senior metals strategist ⁠at Zaner Metals.

Markets are anticipating two rate cuts in 2026, with the first likely ‌around mid-year amid speculation that US President Donald ‍Trump could name a dovish ‍Fed chair, reinforcing expectations for a more accommodative monetary stance.

The US ‍dollar index was on track for a weekly decline, enhancing the appeal of dollar-priced gold for overseas buyers.

On the geopolitical front, the US carried out airstrikes against Daesh militants in northwest Nigeria, Trump said on Thursday.

“$80 in ​silver is within reach by year-end. For gold, the next objective is $4,686.61, with $5,000 likely in the first half of next ⁠year,” Grant added.

Gold remains poised for its strongest annual gain since 1979, underpinned by Fed policy easing, central bank purchases, ETF inflows, and ongoing de-dollarization trends.

On the physical demand side, gold discounts in India widened to their highest in more than six months this week as a relentless price rally curbed retail buying, while discounts in China narrowed sharply from last week’s five-year highs.

Elsewhere, spot platinum rose 9.8% to $2,437.72 per ounce, having earlier hit a record high of $2,454.12 while palladium surged 14% to $1,927.81, its highest level in more than three years.

All precious ‌metals logged weekly gains, with platinum recording its strongest weekly rise on record.