In a major policy shift, Saudi Arabia has announced significant amendments to its housing subsidy regulations under the Sakani program. The most notable change is the reduction of the minimum eligibility age for applicants from 25 to 20 years. This move is designed to encourage younger citizens to pursue homeownership and aligns with the goals of Saudi Vision 2030, which emphasizes economic diversification and social reform.
The new eligibility criteria were approved during a cabinet meeting chaired by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on May 27. The Ministry of Municipal, Rural Affairs, and Housing confirmed the policy change and stated that it supports broader access to housing and financial assistance for more families in the Kingdom.
Minister Majid bin Abdullah Al-Hogail noted that this reform is part of a broader strategy to increase homeownership rates and enhance the inclusiveness of the Sakani program. The program, which has already raised the national homeownership rate to approximately 64% with a 90% satisfaction rate among beneficiaries, was recently praised by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for its role in promoting social welfare and economic stability.
Additional cabinet-approved changes include:
Removal of the dependency condition for wives and divorced mothers, promoting gender equality in homeownership.
Adjustments to the mandatory waiting period (Iddah) for divorced women applying for housing support.
Reduction of the mandatory property retention period from 10 years to 5 years, allowing homeowners to sell or transfer assets more easily.
Stricter penalties for submitting false information during the application process, with potential cancellation of housing subsidies for violations.
The new rules will be implemented once the updated regulatory framework is finalized, and applications meeting the revised standards will be accepted accordingly.
These reforms are expected to significantly broaden access to housing and empower more citizens—especially young people and women—to own property in Saudi Arabia.
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