In a move aligned with the Crown Prince’s directives to support the real estate sector and enhance its efficiency within the comprehensive development framework, the Royal Commission for Riyadh City announced lifting the freeze on lands located in the west of the capital, covering an area of 33.24 square kilometers. Owners are now allowed to deal with their properties through buying, selling, planning, subdivision, and obtaining building permits according to the urban code of Wadi Hanifa and its tributaries.

This step represents a gradual return of real estate supply in an area that had been frozen for years, which previously resulted in a shortage of residential lands and rising prices. Lifting the freeze opens the door for new units and plans that will contribute to increasing the volume of residential and commercial supply, leading to a slowdown in price hikes and achieving the desired market balance.

Real estate analysts estimate that the announced area—exceeding 33 km²—is sufficient to have a tangible impact on prices within West Riyadh, especially as it coincides with the implementation of white land fees, which have forced major owners to develop lands instead of hoarding them in anticipation of future price increases.

Lifting the freeze is not limited to empowering owners but also reflects the market’s transition to a more organized phase, where projects are subject to a unified urban code to ensure sustainable planning and balanced services. This integration between regulatory and supervisory decisions supports the Crown Prince’s broader goal of building balanced smart cities that achieve quality of life and rational land use.

The new equation in West Riyadh is based on greater supply and a more disciplined market, making a gradual price decline expected in the coming phase. Lifting the freeze is a strategic step toward achieving sustainable real estate that considers supply and demand and grants the market the long-awaited maturity.