Saudi Gazette report

RIYADH — Saudi Arabia’s Real Estate General Authority has begun restricting rent transactions through digital payment channels from Monday, Jan. 15.

The digital payment channels approved by Ejar are Mada or SADAD and the biller number is 153. Ejar clarified earlier this month that adopting the digital payment mechanism comes in line with a decision of the Council of Ministers.

The authority said that it will gradually stop issuing electronic receipt vouchers for new residential contracts, as the payment will be settled automatically when paid through one of the digital channels, without the need to issue a receipt voucher. This is in implementation of a Cabinet decision to make the necessary arrangements to provide electronic payment service for rent contracts.

The authority emphasized that this step begins with the landlord and tenant documenting the contract on Ejar through a real estate broker licensed by the authority, and then starting to use the digital payment channels to conduct payment operations. The rental payment will reach the bank account of the landlord registered in the rental contract within five working days.

The Ejar has demonstrated the advantages of digital payment, the most prominent of which are preserving the rights of the parties to the rental contract.