The National Real Estate Registration Services Company (RER), a Saudi enterprise wholly owned by the Kingdom’s Public Investment Fund (PIF), serves as a reliable entity granted by the government exclusivity for the implementation of real estate registration works. Aligned with PIF’s vision for economic advancement within the Kingdom, RER strategically pursues its mission in lockstep with the ambitious “Vision 2030” agenda, aimed at broadening economic horizons and promoting sustainable growth.
RER’s operational principle is crystal clear: increase trust in the Saudi real estate market, apart from improving transparency and ownership data accessibility, thereby supporting the goals of “Vision 2030” by enhancing the property sector’s efficiency and increasing its investment attractiveness across the markets.
During his interaction with International Finance, Dr. Mohammad Al-Suliman, RER CEO, said, “RER has distinguished itself as an innovative leader in the real estate registration industry. With a strategic focus on digital transformation, customer service centricity, and sustainable development, RER has redefined the standards of property registration to be a trusted partner in the real estate ecosystem by creating sustainable value and transforming ecosystems through customer-centric real estate services and digital solutions.”
“The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is undergoing a significant transition in all sectors to support a diversified and progressive economy, driven by the objectives of a smart and sustainable future defined in Saudi Vision 2030. The real estate sector is making significant progress to align with this ambitious aim,” the CEO added.
Intending to make Saudi Arabia’s real estate ownership information trustworthy, transparent, and easily accessible, RER aims to build and update a database of all property units within the Kingdom.
“As we construct the register, we will employ PropTech to handle the data in order to provide a range of services that aim to improve the investment and real estate market,” Dr. Mohammad Al-Suliman continued.
RER’s operations are centred around a strategy called “EASE.” Although the word has a different meaning than what is found in English dictionaries, it can be broken down into four operational pillars: E (Enhancing the Foundation), A (Accelerating Core Mandate), S (Sustainable Growth), and E (Ecosystem Partner).
RER sees “EASE” as a form of strategy, which will help it to meet its objectives of ensuring a smart and sustainable future-defined real estate sector under the “Vision 2030.” Under the “EASE Strategy,” RER will align its organisational values and capabilities, along with building trust with the property sector stakeholders, from 2023 to 2025. It will be followed up by “Accelerating Core Mandate,” whether the venture will look to excel in the registry operations, apart from focusing on technology advancement and contributing towards environmental sustainability.
Services and products
RER services in real estate transactions are based on three fundamental principles: efficiency, transparency, and legality. Transparent ownership is required for all units, including public, commercial, residential, and agricultural. The First Registration Service is responsible for establishing this foundation. Presently, the Real Estate Registry diligently documents the present condition of each property on a dedicated page.
The Real Estate Indicators Service offers an alternative solution where RER use generative AI to produce advanced insights tailored to different customers.
Talking about RER’s value-added services and its emphasis on sustainability, the venture is working on building a roadmap to diversify sources of income by investing in the capabilities of the real estate registry.
Among the “Value-Added Services,” we have “Real Estate Transaction,” which is RER’s management of all transactions that occur for the property after completing the first registration and reflecting them in the real estate registry. Followed by “Real Estate Transaction,” we have “Data Monetisation,” which is the optimal investment of real estate data to provide products and services based on accurate data to support decision-making, contributing to raising the transparency and reliability of the real estate sector, designed for all beneficiary groups.
Finally, RER invests in operational, technical and geospatial capabilities to develop innovative solutions and services that provide added value for sustainable growth.
Dedicated technologies
“Incorporating Geographic Information System (GIS) technology is revolutionising the real estate industry in Saudi Arabia. GIS provides a spatial component to the data, improving our capacity to establish and expand a comprehensive national real estate database that will ultimately support the development and structure of the real estate industry in the Kingdom,” Dr. Mohammad Al-Suliman noted.
Since May 2023, RER has implemented GIS to improve the quality of its real estate services by assessing and tracking real estate assets through the registry process using geospatial survey technology and aerial images.
RER’s geospatial approach has become a milestone in the accuracy and availability of real estate information for the organisation. Through the deployment of advanced aerial imaging technologies by RER, critical land ownership details and property boundaries have been captured, thereby improving the transparency and reliability of real estate data for all stakeholders.
RER’s geospatial approach is special in many ways: it has been the first such national project, in terms of covering a vast stretch of land (both urban and non-urban areas). Also, through its “Geospatial Data Management,” RER has established, stored and currently maintains a national cadastral map with an anticipated 8.2 million properties and 3-5 petabytes of data storage. The company has also set up a “National Real Estate Data Map Governance” to execute its “geospatial approach.”
What makes the GIS route special is its ability to add clarity to managing and understanding the spatial aspects of Saudi Arabia’s real estate sector.
“It is a digital map-based platform that enables RER to overlay information such as property boundaries, land usage rights, and infrastructure. This allows individuals and investors to make more informed decisions and streamlines the process of buying even further. Ensure that all stakeholders have access to information about properties and their environs by making property-related data available through interactive maps. Due to the automation of processes like property assessment and land registration made possible by GIS, administrative overhead is reduced and human error is minimised, leading to increased efficiency,” Dr. Mohammad Al-Suliman remarked.
Digital excellence in registration
To its credit, RER has embraced a transformative approach to disrupt the Kingdom’s traditional real estate registration processes, achieved by implementing a user-centric digital model, which emphasises ease of use, efficiency, and accessibility.
By integrating advanced technological solutions, RER has streamlined operations, apart from significantly reducing turnaround times and enhancing overall user satisfaction. These efforts have improved the functionality of real estate registries and established new benchmarks for the real estate sector’s excellence.
“The inception of RER marked the beginning of a new era in property registration, characterised by an unwavering commitment to technological innovation and user experience. By integrating sophisticated digital tools, RER has successfully transformed outdated procedures into a streamlined, transparent, and efficient process. This digital prowess has not only optimised registry operations but also established RER as the new standard-bearer for the industry,” the CEO stated.
Urban development and land management leadership
“RER’s operations have fostered secure property rights, enhanced transparency, and enabled effective urban planning, thereby laying a foundation for economic growth and investment attractiveness. RER’s active contribution to sustainable development is a testament to its dedication to societal advancement and industry innovation,” Dr. Mohammad Al-Suliman commented.
RER has bridged the gap between technological innovation and personalised customer service by establishing a dedicated customer service centre, which offers stakeholders a direct line of communication and assistance, underscoring RER’s holistic approach to customer satisfaction and engagement.
The future of real estate sector
“In the upcoming decade, there will be a prominent shift from the traditional and time-consuming process of real estate registration to a modern and efficient digital system, which offers improved convenience and speed,” Dr. Mohammad Al-Suliman predicted.
This change is crucial for determining the future of the Kingdom’s real estate sector. The RER portal, launched in 2023, plays a significant role in the digitalisation of the Gulf major’s property industry by simplifying the registration process, providing a wide range of property-related services that enhance access to real estate data.
“The primary objective of RER is to guarantee the safeguarding of property rights, streamline interactions, and empower property owners. The RER platform will streamline the process of researching properties and conducting transactions of any magnitude, requiring only a few clicks. This is just a superficial overview of RER’s ambitions to transform the real estate registration process by enhancing user-friendliness, transparency, and efficiency.
The objective of Saudi Vision 2030 is to position the real estate sector as a catalyst for economic diversification in Saudi Arabia. This goal is achievable due to the country’s advanced technology capabilities, robust digital infrastructure, and favourable market regulations,” Dr. Mohammad Al-Suliman said.
Objectives for 2025
In order to advance its mission, RER will focus on advancing geospatial mapping initiatives and expanding coverage across the Kingdom to improve the precision of property boundaries and identification.
“Our goal is to register approximately 80% of the properties in the Kingdom by 2025. A massive undertaking like this will strengthen safeguards for property rights, increase transparency, and create a solid foundation for future economic development and planning. And for this year, we will cover Riyadh and announce more than 4.2 million parcels across the kingdom,” Dr. Mohammad Al-Suliman informed International Finance.
The “Vision 2030” initiative focuses on economic diversification and highlights the importance of digital transformation throughout the economy. In the real estate sector, some of the key objectives include increasing home ownership rates, enhancing service quality, and making investments more attractive. These goals are central to the roadmap’s vision for the future.
“These pillars are undoubtedly consistent with the RER’s goals and efforts to digitise and automate all real estate activities. The ‘EASE Strategy’ is RER’s five-year roadmap for digital transformation. The primary goal of this approach is to streamline operations and improve the real estate experience in the Kingdom through digitisation, automation, dependability, and transparency. In this regard, the RER aims to automate all real estate transactions using its e-platform,” Dr. Mohammad Al-Suliman remarked.
“RER’s ongoing commitment to excellence has shaped the landscape of real estate registration services and demonstrated a profound understanding of its work’s economic and social implications. By securing property rights and enhancing transparency, RER has laid a solid foundation for property ownership that supports economic expansion and boosts investment opportunities. This, in turn, has reinforced RER’s role as a trusted and indispensable partner in the regional development narrative,” he continued.
The organisation’s holistic approach to real estate registration has been pivotal in driving change and delivering value to all stakeholders involved. Through the facilitation of secure property rights, RER has not only empowered landowners but has also provided a stable environment for real estate investments, which is crucial for the region’s socio-economic development.
“Moreover, RER’s proactive stance in adopting the latest technologies and methodologies showcases its leadership in setting industry trends. The successful mapping of an extensive area through aerial surveys is a testament to RER’s innovative spirit and its dedication to precision and quality. The customer service centre initiative stands as an example of RER’s commitment to excellence, ensuring that every stakeholder receives personalised attention and support. This blend of technology and personal service underscores RER’s understanding that while digital transformation is vital, human connections remain integral to its success,” Dr. Mohammad Al-Suliman concluded.