Building your own home or villa? Before you sign with anyone, read this: what to prepare before any digging, why a written contract and staged payments matter, and the questions that protect the biggest project of your life.
Get these ready before any quote.
Approved drawings and a municipality building permit before any digging.
A soil test decides the right foundations.
Hire an independent engineering office to supervise the work for you.
Land, design, permits, structure, finishing, furniture, and a 10–15% reserve.
📝 Always: a detailed written contract attached to the drawings, and payments in stages after each stage is complete and checked. Never pay all, or most, of the money upfront.
You can avoid most of them before you sign.
You need approved drawings and a municipality building permit before any digging.
A soil test decides the right foundations. Saving on it can cost you cracks later.
An independent supervising engineer checks the work matches the drawings, especially the steel and concrete pours.
Payments should be tied to completed stages: foundations, frame, walls...
Name the steel, concrete and blocks in the contract, not just "good materials".
Heat and waterproofing insulation in Riyadh saves a lot on electricity and protects the home for years.
Make sure you're comparing the same thing.
The frame: foundations, columns, slabs and walls, without finishing.
Ready to live in.
You buy the materials.
Photograph the steel before pouring and the services before they're covered. You'll be glad later.
Concrete needs time to cure properly. Rushing can weaken the structure.
Insulating walls and roof during the build is far cheaper than later.
Any change or new agreement: write it down with the price.
Ask before you sign. A good contractor won't mind.
Check it, and ask about similar projects they've built.
Specifications, quantities, timeline, payments and guarantee, all written and attached to the drawings.
A good contractor welcomes supervision.
Each payment after a stage is complete and checked by the engineer.
Ask about the guarantee on the structure and defects after handover, in writing.
See homes they built years ago, and talk to the owners.
One sign on its own doesn't prove anything, but take care if you see them.
Don't start any digging without approved drawings and a permit.
Or wants a big sum upfront. Think twice.
Ask for the steel, concrete and blocks in writing.
Independent supervision protects you. Take care if they refuse.
Rough prices per square metre of built area. Use them to spot a quote that's way off, not as fixed prices. The price depends on the foundations, number of floors, basement and finishing level.
| Service | Rough price |
|---|---|
| Structure with materials, economy (per m²) | SAR 450 – 550 |
| Structure with materials, mid-range (per m²) | SAR 580 – 950 |
| Example: 375 m² villa, turnkey, mid-range | SAR 550,000 – 950,000 |
💡 "Structure" (ʿaẓm) means the frame (foundations, columns, slabs, walls) without finishing. "Turnkey" means ready to live in. Make sure you're comparing the same thing.
🏗️ Sources differ a lot on structure prices. Get detailed quotes from 3 contractors on the same drawings so you compare fairly.
A rough guide from 5 sources in Saudi Arabia (October 2026), including contractors' price guides and Riyadh customers' jobs. Sources vary a lot, so the ranges are wide. The final price is agreed between you and the contractor. Laqeeni doesn't set prices or take commission.
Usually 4 to 8 months for the structure, and one to two years for a full turnkey villa, depending on size and contractor.
With materials is easier for you but needs clear specifications. Labour only gives you more control but needs your time and follow-up.
No. Laqeeni is a directory that connects you with the contractor directly. You agree and pay between you.
Last updated: October 2026
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