Completion: 38 services for developing undeveloped land and avoiding fees
In a strategic move aimed at enhancing the efficiency of the real estate sector in Saudi Arabia, the Developers Services Center (Etmam), the executive arm of the Ministry of Municipalities and Housing, continues its efforts to enable owners of undeveloped land subject to fees to transform their raw real estate assets into viable development projects. The center announced the availability of a comprehensive digital platform encompassing 38 technical and procedural services, specifically designed to remove obstacles for landowners and accelerate urban development.
A regulatory framework aimed at breaking up monopolies
This step complements the government's efforts that began with the implementation of the vacant land tax system, which was not primarily aimed at revenue collection but rather at freeing up land held for illicit purposes within urban areas. Since the program's inception, the government has sought to encourage landowners to develop their land, thereby increasing the supply of real estate and contributing to lower housing prices, making them more affordable for citizens. The new "Etmam" services serve as a crucial link to transform this regulatory pressure (the tax) into genuine investment opportunities that benefit both landowners and the community.
Technical solutions and the "case manager" pathway
The operational model of the “Etmam” center is distinguished by its provision of practical solutions that transcend traditional bureaucracy. One of its most significant added features is the “Case Manager” service, where a dedicated manager is assigned to each project to oversee the development process from start to finish. This manager coordinates directly with relevant government and service agencies, relieving the owner of the burden of dealing with multiple departments and ensuring work progresses according to established timelines. Specialized teams within the center independently study each plot of land, providing engineering and regulatory consultations that guarantee the project's compliance with the Saudi Building Code and the needs of the local market.
Economic impact and the goals of Vision 2030
The importance of these services extends beyond mere procedural steps, encompassing a broad economic impact that benefits the national economy. Accelerating the development of undeveloped land means injecting more residential and commercial properties into the market, directly supporting the housing program, one of the Kingdom's Vision 2030 initiatives, which aims to increase homeownership among citizens to 70%. Furthermore, transforming undeveloped land into urban communities contributes to humanizing cities, improving the urban landscape, and creating new job opportunities in the contracting and construction sector.
A call to invest instead of waiting
The center's digital system aims to solidify the principles of transparency and good governance, allowing landowners to track the progress of their transactions in real time through the platform. The center sends a clear message to landowners that the optimal choice is to move from a phase of "paying fees," which depletes the value of the land, to a phase of "reaping returns" through development and investment. These services represent a golden opportunity for landowners to benefit from unprecedented government support to rectify the status of their land and contribute effectively to the urban development witnessed in the Kingdom's cities.
