Saudi Arabia has passed a landmark law allowing non-residents to own real estate through a digital identity system, a move aimed at attracting foreign investment and supporting Vision 2030’s diversification agenda. The Non-Saudi Real Estate Ownership Law, set to take effect in January 2026, will enable foreigners to purchase property in designated zones, streamlining access to the Kingdom’s $72 billion real estate sector.
To participate, non-Saudi investors must obtain a Saudi digital ID via the government’s Absher platform, managed by the Interior Ministry in coordination with the Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority, the General Real Estate Authority (REGA), and the National Information Center. Investors will also be required to open a local bank account and acquire a Saudi contact number.
REGA will oversee sector compliance, supported by a newly formed committee including government officials and private sector representatives. The initiative is expected to accelerate real estate transactions, enhance transparency, and improve buyer security. By the end of 2024, Saudi Arabia had issued 28 million digital IDs domestically, underscoring the importance of digital identity as a pillar of Vision 2030. The system mirrors Estonia’s E-Residency model, with Saudi Arabia also collaborating with Estonian firm BEST Solutions earlier this year to expand mobile identity solutions.
Meanwhile, Africa is seeing its own digital transformation momentum with the launch of AfricAI, a joint venture between Nigeria’s Next Digital, Australia’s Lakeba Group, UAE-based AqlanX, and Dutch consultancy Agentic Dynamic. The initiative aims to build localized, enterprise-grade AI across the continent, focusing initially on Nigeria before expanding to Kenya, South Africa, Rwanda, and Ghana by 2026.
AfricAI will target sectors such as healthcare, governance, digital identity, and enterprise services. It plans to equip at least 100 professionals with AI skills while addressing the continent’s infrastructure gap—Africa currently has less than 1% of global data center capacity and limited AI computing resources. By deploying models tailored to local contexts, AfricAI seeks to reduce reliance on Western solutions and establish Africa as a meaningful player in the global AI landscape.
