Secured landing in Saudi Arabia

Saudi judicial decisions are highly unpredictable because Saudi law is not codified and judges are not bound by precedent. Only Saudi nationals can legally own real property in Saudi Arabia, unless a special license for certain activities is authorized by the Saudi government. A mortgage may be registered over such a foreign-owned property. Banks and financial institutions can not register a mortgage of real estate because they deal in usury which is prohibited by the shari`a . The shari`a is the basic source of Saudi law and recognizes certain principles of mortgage of real and personal property. Mortgages of real estate are only valid if registered before a notary public and public notaries have refused to register mortgages for commercial banks. Alternatives have therefore been sought but none appear viable or secure from a legal standpoint. Moveables can not be registered in Saudi Arabia. Insurance contracts can not be enforced under the shari`a of the land. Promissory n