How Can You Verify a Real Estate Broker's FAL Licence in Saudi Arabia?

You can verify a real estate broker's FAL licence in Saudi Arabia for free through the Real Estate General Authority's (REGA) Real Estate Broker Inquiry service, searching by the broker's licence number, a brokerage contract number, or an ownership document number. Doing this before signing anything or paying a commission is the simplest way to confirm you are dealing with a lawfully licensed broker.

What the FAL Licence Actually Authorizes

The FAL licence is REGA's official permit for real estate activities in Saudi Arabia, covering four main categories: real estate brokerage, real estate marketing, real estate advertising, and real estate consultations and analyses. A broker's licence is limited to the specific activity or activities it authorizes — holding a licence for advertising, for example, does not automatically permit brokerage services.

Who Can Hold a FAL Licence

An individual FAL licence is generally restricted to Saudi citizens who are 18 or older, have no criminal record or history of misconduct violations, and have passed the required qualification training through the Saudi Real Estate Institute. Companies and establishments, including those with foreign ownership, can hold a licence provided they have valid commercial registration and appoint a legally qualified manager to practice brokerage under the entity.

How to Verify a Broker's Licence Step by Step

• Go to REGA's Electronic Real Estate Brokerage Services and navigate to the Inquiries section
• Choose your inquiry method — by the broker's licence number, by a brokerage contract number, or by an ownership document number
• Enter the relevant details and submit the inquiry
• Review the licence information returned, including its current status, to confirm it is valid and matches the activity the broker is offering

Why This Verification Step Matters

Engaging an unlicensed broker leaves both buyers and sellers, or landlords and tenants, without the protections built into the Real Estate Brokerage Law — including proper registration of the transaction on the Ejar or Wafi platforms where relevant. Brokers who fail to register a lease through Ejar can themselves be fined up to SAR 2,000 per lease, doubled for a repeat violation within three years, so verifying licence status is also a reasonable proxy for whether the broker follows other registration obligations.

Key Takeaways

• A FAL licence is REGA's official authorization for real estate brokerage, marketing, advertising, and consultancy activities in Saudi Arabia.
• Anyone can verify a broker's licence for free through REGA's Real Estate Broker Inquiry service, using the licence number, contract number, or ownership document number.
• Individual licences are restricted to Saudi citizens; companies, including foreign-owned ones, can hold a licence with a qualified manager.
• Verifying licence status before engaging a broker protects against unlicensed practice and related registration failures.

Conclusion

Verifying a real estate broker's FAL licence takes only a few minutes through REGA's official inquiry service, and it is a simple, free way to protect yourself before entering a real estate transaction in Saudi Arabia. Given how central proper licensing and registration are to your legal protections as a buyer, seller, landlord, or tenant, this step is worth treating as mandatory rather than optional.