Saudi Arabia has approved a landmark law enabling non-residents to own real estate in the Kingdom through a digital identity system. The new Non-Saudi Real Estate Ownership Law, set to take effect in January 2026, allows foreign investors to purchase property in designated zones as part of the Kingdom’s strategy to attract international capital and boost urban development under Vision 2030.
Non-Saudi investors will be required to obtain a Saudi digital ID through Absher, the government’s official platform, alongside a local bank account and contact number. The Interior Ministry will oversee the rollout in collaboration with the Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority, the General Real Estate Authority (REGA), and the National Information Center.
REGA will play a central role in ensuring compliance, with a newly formed oversight committee that includes representatives from ministries, private sector members, and its board. The digital ID mechanism is expected to simplify real estate transactions, enhance transparency, and strengthen buyer security. Saudi authorities noted that over 28 million digital IDs had already been issued locally by the end of last year, underscoring the system’s role as a pillar of the country’s digital transformation.
The move also aligns Saudi Arabia with regional peers such as the UAE and Jordan, where digital IDs are being increasingly integrated into banking and economic systems.
AfricAI: Building an AI Future for Africa
Meanwhile, in Africa, four companies have launched AfricAI, a joint venture aimed at advancing enterprise-grade artificial intelligence across the continent. The initiative is backed by Nigeria’s Next Digital, Australia’s Lakeba Group, UAE-based AqlanX, and Dutch consultancy Agentic Dynamic.
AfricAI seeks to address Africa’s digital infrastructure gap, with the continent currently holding less than 1% of global data center capacity despite its large population. Initially, the venture will focus on Nigeria, deploying AI solutions in healthcare, governance, digital identity, and enterprise services. Expansion to Kenya, South Africa, Rwanda, and Ghana is planned by 2026, with a target of training at least 100 AI professionals.
The consortium plans to develop localized AI models tailored to national ID systems and local infrastructure, with digital identity as a key focus area. Next Digital chairman Prince Malik Ado-Ibrahim described AfricAI as a movement to “build Africa’s future on our terms” and establish the continent as a global AI player.
