Monthly Rent in Saudi Arabia: Paying a Yearly Lease in 12 Monthly Payments
Want to pay rent monthly instead of a year upfront? There are two ways: agree monthly payments with your landlord on Ejar, or have Ejari pay the landlord the full year while you pay monthly. Who can apply and what it costs.
In this article
The short answer: you can pay a yearly lease monthly in two ways. You can agree monthly payments with your landlord, since the Ejar platform allows rent to be paid monthly, quarterly, semi-annually or annually (Ejar, in Arabic). Or, if the landlord wants the year in one payment, Ejari pays the landlord the full annual rent and you repay Ejari in instalments, usually 12 monthly payments, for a service fee of up to 15% of the rent on a 12-month contract.
The Ejar facts on this page come from Ejar’s residential lease page, and the Ejari facts from our FAQ and terms and conditions. Checked on 3 November 2026.
This page is about a yearly residential lease paid monthly. If you’re looking for a place to stay for a month or two, that’s a different kind of rental and isn’t covered here.
Two Ways to Pay Rent Monthly
| Agree monthly payments with the landlord | Ejari pays the landlord the year | |
|---|---|---|
| The landlord receives | A payment each month | The full year’s rent from Ejari |
| You pay | The rent you agreed | The rent plus a service fee of up to 15% on a 12-month contract |
| What it needs | The landlord agrees to a monthly schedule | The landlord agrees, and your application is approved |
| The lease | Between you and the landlord | Ejari drafts and signs it, and Ejari is the lessor on your lease |
| Payment dates | The lease’s schedule | Set by your Ejar contract |
Option 1: Agree Monthly Payments With Your Landlord
The payment schedule is part of the unified lease, and Ejar allows monthly, quarterly, semi-annual or annual payments. So monthly rent is possible on the platform itself, but the landlord has to agree to it before the lease is registered. Many landlords prefer a yearly payment; see our guide to negotiating rent. For new residential leases, payment has to go through Ejar; how to pay is in our guide to paying rent through Ejar.
Watch the grace period, which is shorter for monthly payments. If the payment cycle is under 180 days, you have 15 days from the due date; at 180 days or more, 30 days. If you’re still late after that, the unified lease lets the landlord terminate it through Ejar after a further period, unless you agree another one.
Option 2: Ejari Pays the Landlord, You Pay Monthly
If the landlord wants the full year, Ejari pays them the full annual rent directly, and you repay Ejari in instalments. Ejari isn’t Ejar or part of it: Ejar is the government platform where leases are registered, and Ejari is a company licensed by REGA (licence no. 2200001825).
How it works:
- Get your quote. Enter your ID and phone number for an instant quote. Get your quote in the Ejari app.
- Get a decision, usually within 24–48 hours.
- Ejari contacts the landlord, drafts the lease and handles the signing.
- Pay the first instalment. The rent goes to the landlord once the lease is signed and the first payment is made, and you can move in once the contract has started.
What to know:
- Your lease is on Ejar, with Ejari as the lessor. Ejari rents from the landlord and subleases to you (terms).
- Payment dates come from the lease. Your instalment dates are set by your Ejar contract: usually the same day each month, from your lease date.
- Contracts run 6 or 12 months.
- Riyadh is different. Inside Riyadh, a one-time service fee is paid upfront in the Ejari app when the lease starts, and the monthly rent payments continue on Ejar’s schedule. Outside Riyadh, the service costs are included in the rent.
- Easiest if you apply before you sign. Ejari usually signs a new lease with the landlord. If your lease is already running on Ejar, moving it to Ejari is possible but handled case by case: contact us.
Who Can Apply?
Eligibility is based on your employment status and income, your SIMAH credit score, and your rent-to-income ratio (see the 30% rule). Ejari is for residential rentals only, available in every city and region, and needs the landlord’s consent. It fetches your details from your ID and phone number, and asks for a salary certificate only if your employment data isn’t available through GOSI. Ejari reports your payments to SIMAH, so paying on time builds your credit record.
What Does Monthly Rent With Ejari Cost?
Ejari charges a service fee, not interest, under a Sharia-compliant model. It’s typically 10–15% of the yearly rent, and up to 15% on a 12-month contract. It depends on how the contract is set up, not on your credit score:
| Contract set-up | Fee on a 12-month contract |
|---|---|
| The landlord is paid in one payment and you pay monthly | 15% |
| The landlord is paid in 2 or 4 payments, or you pay every 3 or 6 months | Less than 15% |
Rents below SAR 20,000 add a one-off SAR 500, except on 6-month contracts. Shorter contracts are priced on your quote, and you see the total cost and your monthly instalment before you commit.
An example only, at the highest fee: a yearly rent of SAR 60,000 × 15% = SAR 9,000 in fees, SAR 69,000 in total, or SAR 5,750 a payment over 12 payments. That’s outside Riyadh, since inside Riyadh the fee is paid upfront. Your actual fee is on your quote.
If You Pay Ejari Late
Ejari will notify you and offer a short grace period, but ongoing missed payments may lead to SIMAH reporting. If it comes to legal action, the fees are set by Najiz and paid by the customer. For renewing or leaving early, see our guide to renewing a lease and our guide to breaking a lease. To compare every way to rent without paying the year upfront, see renting in Saudi Arabia without paying a year upfront.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Ejar allow monthly rent payments? Yes. Ejar allows monthly, quarterly, semi-annual or annual payments, agreed by the landlord and tenant in the lease.
How much does Ejari charge to pay rent monthly? Typically 10–15% of the yearly rent, up to 15% on a 12-month contract, plus a one-off SAR 500 for rents below SAR 20,000, except on 6-month contracts.
Who can pay rent monthly with Ejari? Eligibility is based on employment and income, your SIMAH score and your rent-to-income ratio. The home must be residential and the landlord must agree.
Can I choose my payment date? No. Your instalment dates are set by your Ejar contract: usually the same day each month, from your lease date.
Can I switch my current lease to monthly payments with Ejari? Sometimes. Ejari usually signs a new lease with the landlord, and moving a lease that’s already running on Ejar is handled case by case. Contact us before you change anything on your current lease.
Ejari is a REGA-licensed company that lets you pay your rent in monthly instalments. See how Ejari works.
