Renting Without a Guarantor in Riyadh 2026: When a Kafeel Is Required and How to Pay Monthly

Many tenants searching for an apartment in Riyadh in 2026 are looking for a rental without a guarantor — new employees, expatriates, graduates returning home, and self-employed tenants alike. Many of them find that the Riyadh rental market asks either for a full year's rent upfront, or for a guarantor (kafeel) to secure payment, and sometimes both. This guide explains how lease agreements actually work in Riyadh, why some landlords ask for a guarantor, when it isn't necessary, and what options a tenant has. If your main obstacle is the annual payment itself rather than the guarantor, start with our guide to renting in Riyadh without an annual upfront payment, and if you're wondering why landlords insist on the full year at all, read why Riyadh landlords demand annual payment.

Why do some landlords in Riyadh ask for a guarantor?

Asking for a guarantor in Riyadh is not a uniform rule — it is a judgement call by landlords and real-estate offices to reduce risk. In many cases a landlord accepts a tenant directly without any guarantor if the rent is paid annually upfront and registered on the official Ejar platform, because the upfront payment removes the need for extra security. The guarantor question usually starts when the tenant asks to split the rent monthly or quarterly, when the employment contract is short-term, or when there is an unstable prior rental record.

A guarantor is not a regulatory requirement imposed by Ejar or any government body — it is a commercial decision made by the landlord or the real-estate office. In practice the guarantor is usually a family member or a colleague with stable income, which is not available to every tenant, especially someone who has just moved to Riyadh and has no wide network in the city.

When is a guarantor necessary, and when is it not?

• Annual contract paid upfront: a guarantor is usually not requested, because the full payment removes the need for security.
• Asking the landlord directly for instalments: here the likelihood of a guarantor or an alternative guarantee rises, because the landlord carries the collection risk month by month.
• Short employment contract or irregular income: some offices treat these cases cautiously and may ask for extra security.

By contrast, if the rent is paid annually upfront and registered on the official Ejar platform, a guarantor is unlikely to be requested. But paying a full year upfront simply isn't available to many tenants, particularly those on a limited or irregular income — you can read more about how the monthly arrangement works in our guide to monthly rent in Riyadh.

It also varies by segment: a government employee usually has stable income that makes it easier to convince a landlord without a guarantor (monthly rent for government employees), while self-employed tenants (monthly rent for the self-employed) and expatriate residents (monthly rent for expats) face more questions about proof of income and security — though in every case the guarantor remains a commercial decision by the landlord, not a legal requirement.

Options for a tenant who cannot provide a guarantor

There are several practical routes a tenant can take instead of a guarantor:

• Paying the rent annually upfront: removes the need for a guarantor in most cases, but consumes a large amount of savings at once.
• An automatic monthly bank transfer to the landlord: some landlords accept this instead of a guarantor as a signal of commitment to regular payment.
• Presenting strong, clear proof of income: a bank statement and an employment contract with a well-known company may persuade the landlord to accept the tenant without a guarantor.
• Working with rental-payment platforms: some Saudi platforms convert the annual rent into monthly payments based on an internal eligibility assessment — the landlord receives the rent annually while the tenant pays monthly.

If your salary is limited and the annual rent consumes a large share of your income, it may help to read our guide to renting in Riyadh on a limited salary for practical steps on managing your budget and choosing the right contract.

How Dlight can help a tenant pay rent monthly

Dlight is a Saudi fintech company that helps tenants convert annual rent into monthly payments for a clear service fee. The model is simple: the tenant chooses the apartment they want to rent, then applies through Dlight. After approval and the completion of a lease registered on the official Ejar platform, Dlight helps arrange payment of the rent to the landlord, and the tenant then repays monthly on the agreed schedule. Under this arrangement the landlord receives the rent within a standard annual frame and does not necessarily need to ask for extra security relating to monthly payment, because the monthly schedule sits between the tenant and Dlight, not with the landlord.

Dlight does not choose the apartment for the tenant and does not list units; you bring the unit you have chosen and agreed with the landlord, and Dlight's role begins at arranging payment. Applications are subject to eligibility review and income verification, and approval depends on that review — it is not automatic. Eligibility requires the tenant to be a Saudi citizen or a legal resident with verifiable income. Fees are disclosed inside the application before the request is completed, with no hidden fees, and the model is based on a clear service fee rather than interest.

Practical tips for finding a rental in Riyadh without a guarantor

• Before contacting the real-estate office, work out your actual monthly budget based on your net income after other commitments.
• Prepare your documents in advance: National ID or Iqama, employment contract, recent bank statement.
• If you deal with a rental-payment platform, make sure the contract is registered on Ejar before transferring any funds.
• Read the contract in full, especially the clauses on repairs and administrative fees, since responsibility for them is determined by the contract between landlord and tenant.
• Keep a copy of every receipt and written agreement.

FAQ

Is a guarantor required to rent an apartment in Riyadh?

There is no general legal requirement for a guarantor to rent in Riyadh. Asking for one is a commercial decision by the landlord or the real-estate office, not a requirement of the Ejar platform or any regulator. Many annual contracts paid upfront and registered on Ejar do not require a guarantor.

Can I rent monthly in Riyadh without providing a guarantor?

Yes, in some cases. Saudi rental-payment platforms such as Dlight evaluate the tenant's eligibility internally, so the landlord receives the rent within an annual frame while the tenant pays monthly without needing a traditional kafeel. Applications are subject to eligibility review and income verification, and approval is not automatic.

What documents might a landlord ask for if there is no guarantor?

Typically: clear proof of income (employment contract and recent bank statement), a copy of the National ID or Iqama, sometimes a payment guarantee such as an automatic bank transfer, plus the standard registration of the contract on the Ejar platform. You can check your options at dlight.ai/register.