Who Needs the FAL Comprehensive Exam, and Who Doesn't

Last verified: 18 October 2026. Requirements can change, so check the Foundation Level page of the Saudi Real Estate Institute (SREI) and the Real Estate General Authority (REGA) e-services before you decide. This site is independent and is not affiliated with REGA, SREI, the National Center for Assessment (Qiyas) or any government body.

This guide explains who has to take the Foundation Level comprehensive exam, who does not, and how the FAL brokerage and marketing license differs from the other FAL licenses and from a real estate advertising licence.

Who has to take the exam?

REGA announced that passing the Foundation Level is a requirement for issuing a FAL real estate brokerage and marketing license for the first time, effective 1 September 2026. So the exam applies to you if you are:

• An individual issuing a FAL brokerage and marketing license for the first time.
• The responsible manager of an establishment applying for the brokerage and marketing license, since REGA requires the responsible manager to complete the qualification programme.
• Someone practising brokerage or real estate marketing without a license who wants to regularise their position.

Requirements for individuals: aged 18 or over, a valid national ID, full legal capacity, no conviction for a crime involving honour or trust unless rehabilitated, completion of the qualification programme, and payment of the fee.

Who does not need it?

• Holders of a valid license: they renew by paying the renewal fee only and are not currently required to join the Foundation Level or repeat any earlier programme, according to the SREI FAQ.
• Those who passed the old-track programmes: SREI recognises them. People who were partway through the old track have special transition-period rules (18 July – 31 August 2026), explained in our registration guide.
• Optional programmes and the diploma: the "Ejar Platform" and "Introduction to Real Estate Financial Solvency Calculation" programmes, and the Diploma in Real Estate Regulations and Legislation, are not requirements for issuing or renewing the license.

Other FAL licenses are not this exam

"FAL" is a family of real estate licenses, and the Foundation Level with its comprehensive exam is tied to the brokerage and marketing license only. Each of the other licenses has its own SREI qualification programme:

If you are aiming for one of these licenses, read its service page on REGA's website; the question bank on this site is built for the brokerage and marketing exam.

A real estate advertising licence is not a FAL license

Many people confuse the two. A FAL license lets you practise, while a real estate advertising licence is issued for each individual ad (Article 6 of the Brokerage Law Implementing Regulations) and is created on REGA's platform from a brokerage contract that includes a marketing scope. The Real Estate Marketing and Advertising Regulations (2026) cover social media, the media, exhibitions, electronic real estate platforms and billboards. An advertiser licensed to market a whole project under other rules, such as off-plan sales, auctions or real estate contributions, is exempt from the ad licence (Article 9). So even after you hold a FAL license, you will need a licence for every ad you publish.

Working without a license is a violation

• No one may practise real estate brokerage or provide real estate services without a REGA licence (Real Estate Brokerage Law, Article 4).
• The definition of brokerage includes electronic brokerage through websites and social media (Article 1), so listing other people's properties on your accounts for a commission is brokerage.
• Practising without a licence is an explicit violation (Article 18), punishable by penalties that include a warning or a fine of up to SAR 200,000, which may be doubled for a repeat within 3 years (Article 19).
• Anyone whose licence is cancelled may not apply again until 3 years after the cancellation (Article 19).

Is this exam right for you?

• You are starting out as a broker or real estate marketer: yes, it is now the only route to the brokerage and marketing license.
• You market properties on social media for a commission: yes, that is electronic brokerage and needs a license.
• You are setting up a brokerage office: yes, if you are the responsible manager, or whoever you appoint as responsible manager must pass it.
• You sell or rent out your own property without a broker or commission: that is not brokerage under the law's definition, but advertising the property is subject to the advertising regulations, so check with REGA before you post.
• You want to do property management, auctions or consultancy: you need a different license with a different qualification, as in the table above.

How this site helps

• A question bank split into 10 units covering the three programmes, so you can see where you are strong and what needs review.
• An explanation for every answer, pointing to the article or official guidance it relies on.
• A mock exam of 35 questions in 45 minutes.

Your scores on this site are for practice only and are not an official result. The site does not issue licenses and cannot enrol you in the programmes or the exam.