A tenant who stops paying, or stays on after the lease ends, is one of the most stressful situations a landlord faces. The current Saudi path is not built on informal customs but on the unified electronic lease documented in the Ejar platform, its services, and the execution track via Najiz. This page presents the framework as published by Ejar and the Real Estate General Authority, as part of Hala Law's real estate and rentals materials.

Why everything starts with the documented contract

Ejar confirms that the unified electronic lease is an enforceable instrument, which reduces the need to file a lawsuit in rent or eviction claims when the contract is enforceable. The practical difference is direct: a creditor holding an enforceable instrument usually proceeds to an execution request via Najiz rather than a longer lawsuit. So the first question in any non-payment or holdover situation is: is the contract documented in Ejar, and does it carry enforceable status as it stands?

Non-payment: the grace period before termination

The published residential lease model obliges the tenant to pay rent on the agreed dates. It also allows the landlord to terminate the contract via Ejar where the tenant is late beyond the agreed grace period, with published wording referring to 15 or 30 days depending on what the contract states, unless the parties agree via Ejar on a different grace period.

The takeaway: the grace period is not one fixed number for all leases — what counts is what is written in your documented contract and any later agreement made through the platform.

The practical route, step by step

| Step | Detail | | --- | --- | | 1. Review the contract | Contract type, grace period, due dates, and payment method | | 2. Notice | Send a formal notice through the channels available in Ejar | | 3. Execution or lawsuit | If payment is not made, prepare the execution request or the appropriate judicial route depending on the contract's status | | 4. After the execution order | Use Ejar's one-party cancellation service, attaching the execution decision ending the contract |

The platform steps above reflect the last verification on 26 June 2026; labels may change with updates.

The one-party cancellation service: when is it available?

Ejar's one-party cancellation service is dedicated to the case where an execution order evicting the tenant exists, and it requires attaching the execution decision ending the contract. It is not a tool for ending the lease unilaterally at any moment — it is a step that follows the execution order. The service also excludes contracts linked to subleases, which makes those files more complex at eviction; see subletting rules.

Is arbitration a route for rent and eviction disputes?

REGA clarifies that some disputes are excluded from arbitration, including rent-payment and eviction claims pursued under an Ejar contract when it is an enforceable instrument. For broader disputes — maintenance, compensation, or interpreting a clause — the route may differ; see how to file a real estate dispute. If your issue is ending the lease before its term, see ending a lease early.

Statutory transition status

A new Enforcement Law was issued in 2026 and, according to professional sources published after its issuance, enters into force 180 days after publication, with significant transitional rules — especially around electronically registering certain commercial papers via national platforms such as Nafith. This page reflects the position as last verified on 26 June 2026 and will be reviewed once the new law and its regulations take effect.

When do you need a licensed lawyer?

This page is a general framework, not an assessment of a specific case. The matter becomes one for a licensed lawyer or accredited adviser when:

  • The contract is not documented in Ejar, or its enforceable status is doubtful or disputed.
  • The tenant pays partially or contests the amount due, turning the dispute into one of evidence and accounting.
  • The contract is tied to a sublease or multiple parties — such contracts are excluded from the one-party cancellation service.
  • The tenant objects to execution, or the claim is entangled with other disputes between the parties.

In those cases the competent authority weighs the facts and documents, and each party's position rests on the evidence presented — not on a single general rule.