Etmam Center: 38 digital services to support real estate development in Saudi Arabia
In a move to enhance the efficiency of the real estate sector in Saudi Arabia, the Ministry of Municipalities and Housing announced that the Developers Services Center, "Etmam," now offers 38 integrated digital services, aiming to bring about a qualitative leap in the real estate development process. This step complements the Ministry's ongoing digital transformation efforts to remove obstacles for investors and developers and ensure the smooth flow of procedures in one of the most vital sectors of the national economy.
A unified platform for integrated services
The ministry explained that the new services cover interconnected development pathways, specifically designed to regulate and support the work of real estate developers. These services include land development within urban areas subject to fees, as well as providing technical and procedural support for major real estate development projects. The "Etmam" platform acts as a unified portal connecting beneficiaries with all relevant government and service entities, thus ending the era of complex paperwork and navigating between different departments.
The role of "Itmam" as a strategic enabling arm
The "Etmam" center serves as an enabling arm for developers, not only providing electronic services but also managing relationships with them by assigning a "relationship manager" to each developer. This manager is responsible for following up on applications and coordinating directly with relevant authorities to ensure procedures proceed according to established timelines and regulations. This operational model directly contributes to greater clarity for investors and expedites the process of obtaining necessary licenses and approvals, which positively impacts the speed at which residential units are brought to market.
Enhancing the investment environment and attracting capital
Economically, these services play a pivotal role in improving the Kingdom's investment climate. By reducing overall transaction times and lowering administrative costs associated with waiting periods, the Saudi real estate sector becomes more attractive to both domestic and foreign capital. The Ministry noted that this increased confidence in the investment process encourages property owners and developers to expedite their projects, thereby boosting the real estate supply and contributing to market stability.
Alignment with the objectives of the Kingdom's Vision 2030
The efforts of the "Etmam" Center are perfectly aligned with the objectives of the Kingdom's Vision 2030, particularly regarding the housing program and increasing homeownership rates among citizens. Digital transformation and improving the efficiency of government procedures are two fundamental pillars for achieving sustainable urban development and enhancing the quality of life in Saudi cities, making the real estate development sector a key driver of non-oil economic diversification.
