The Etmam Developer Services Center, the executive arm of the Ministry of Municipalities and Housing, continues its tireless efforts to enable owners of undeveloped land subject to fees to transform their properties into vital urban development projects. The center has announced the availability of a comprehensive digital platform comprising 38 technical and procedural services, specifically designed to remove obstacles for landowners and accelerate the pace of real estate development across the Kingdom's cities.
Context and objectives of white land fees
This step comes within the framework of the government's ongoing efforts to implement the vacant land tax program, which the Kingdom approved to combat land speculation within urban areas. The system primarily aims to incentivize landowners to develop their land instead of leaving it undeveloped, thereby increasing the supply of developed land and residential units, and ultimately achieving a balance between supply and demand and curbing unjustified price increases.
Quality services and a unified path for developers
The “Etmam” center acts as a central link connecting property owners with all relevant government and service entities through a unified platform. The 38 services offered encompass a wide range of solutions, from issuing building permits and approving subdivision plans to providing building completion certificates and connecting utilities and public services. A key feature of this system is the dedicated “case manager” for each project, where a specialized team monitors the development process step by step, ensuring clarity for beneficiaries and rapid completion in accordance with approved engineering and regulatory requirements.
Expected economic and developmental impact
This movement is expected to attract significant investments to the real estate sector, transforming landowners from paying annual fees that erode the value of their assets into investors reaping substantial returns. Furthermore, accelerating the development of these lands will positively impact the urban landscape of Saudi cities by transforming vacant land into residential neighborhoods and integrated commercial centers, thereby enhancing the quality of life and improving the efficiency of existing infrastructure.
Alignment with the goals of Vision 2030
These initiatives directly contribute to achieving the goals of Saudi Vision 2030, specifically the housing program which aims to raise homeownership rates among citizens to 70%. By streamlining development procedures through the "Etmam" platform, a wider variety of housing options are made available to meet the needs of Saudi families, while also enhancing transparency and governance in the real estate sector, thus making the Kingdom's investment environment more attractive and sustainable.
