Saudi Real Estate Fund boosts homeownership with $257m for Sakani program

The Sakani program facilitates homeownership by providing affordable housing options and financing assistance, particularly targeting individuals facing challenges in accessing the housing market. Shutterstock
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Updated 24 March 2024
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Saudi Real Estate Fund boosts homeownership with $257m for Sakani program

RIYADH: Homeownership in Saudi Arabia is set to increase as the Real Estate Development Fund deposited SR963 million ($256.7 million) into the accounts of Sakani beneficiaries for March. 

The funds were disbursed to beneficiaries through the Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs and Housing, as per the Saudi Press Agency.

The Sakani program facilitates homeownership by providing affordable housing options and financing assistance, particularly targeting individuals facing challenges in accessing the housing market. 

Mansour bin Madi, the CEO of the fund, clarified that the total support for the current month of March was allocated to bolster profits of various housing support contracts.  

He highlighted that the total amount deposited into the Sakani beneficiaries’ accounts since the announcement of the transformation scheme in June 2017 until March reached approximately SR57.5 billion. 

Bin Madi explained that the continuity of housing support confirms the ongoing efforts to assist beneficiaries in owning suitable housing in partnership with financial institutions.  

This comes in line with achieving the targets of the housing program — one of the components of Vision 2030 — to raise the citizens’ housing ownership rate to 70 percent and provide sustainable housing and financial solutions through building supportive systems and legislation. 

REDF offers housing aid services through over 43 digital platforms via the fund’s electronic portal.  

Additionally, it provides the “Design Your Support” service within the Real Estate Advisor platform, allowing beneficiaries to tailor their housing support and access optimal financial and housing recommendations.  

Moreover, the unified call center and social media channels address beneficiaries’ inquiries and questions. 

The Sakani scheme has transformed Saudi Arabia’s housing market by offering financing options such as rent-to-own and mortgages, enabling citizens to achieve their homeownership aspirations. 

It assists first-time buyers by providing guidance throughout the process and facilitating financing. 

Moreover, the initiative addresses citizen housing needs and promotes nationwide community development, showcasing the impact of the housing program. 

Through innovative services and financing options, Sakani not only transforms the housing market but also contributes to broader community development initiatives, demonstrating its pivotal role in shaping the future of Saudi Arabia's residential landscape. 


Saudi POS transactions see 20% surge to hit $4bn: SAMA

Updated 05 December 2025
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Saudi POS transactions see 20% surge to hit $4bn: SAMA

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s total point-of-sale transactions surged by 20.4 percent in the week ending Nov. 29, to reach SR15.1 billion ($4 billion).

According to the latest data from the Saudi Central Bank, the number of POS transactions represented a 9.1 percent week-on-week increase to 240.25 million compared to 220.15 million the week before.

Most categories saw positive change across the period, with spending on laundry services registering the biggest uptick at 36 percent to SR65.1 million. Recreation followed, with a 35.3 percent increase to SR255.99 million. 

Expenditure on apparel and clothing saw an increase of 34.6 percent, followed by a 27.8 percent increase in spending on telecommunication. Jewelry outlays rose 5.6 percent to SR354.45 million.

Data revealed decreases across only three sectors, led by education, which saw the largest dip at 40.4 percent to reach SR62.26 million. 

Spending on airlines in Saudi Arabia fell by 25.2 percent, coinciding with major global flight disruptions. This followed an urgent Airbus recall of 6,000 A320-family aircraft after solar radiation was linked to potential flight-control data corruption. Saudi carriers moved swiftly to implement the mandatory fixes.

Flyadeal completed all updates and rebooked affected passengers, while flynas updated 20 aircraft with no schedule impact. Their rapid response contained the disruption, allowing operations to return to normal quickly.

Expenditure on food and beverages saw a 28.4 percent increase to SR2.31 billion, claiming the largest share of the POS. Spending on restaurants and cafes followed with an uptick of 22.3 percent to SR1.90 billion.

The Kingdom’s key urban centers mirrored the national decline. Riyadh, which accounted for the largest share of total POS spending, saw a 14.1 percent surge to SR5.08 billion, up from SR4.46 billion the previous week. The number of transactions in the capital reached 75.2 million, up 4.4 percent week-on-week.

In Jeddah, transaction values increased by 18.1 percent to SR2.03 billion, while Dammam reported a 14 percent surge to SR708.08 million.

POS data, tracked weekly by SAMA, provides an indicator of consumer spending trends and the ongoing growth of digital payments in Saudi Arabia. 

The data also highlights the expanding reach of POS infrastructure, extending beyond major retail hubs to smaller cities and service sectors, supporting broader digital inclusion initiatives. 

The growth of digital payment technologies aligns with the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 objectives, promoting electronic transactions and contributing to the nation’s broader digital economy.