Ejar Contract Termination: How to Cancel a Lease Early in Saudi Arabia
Ejar contract termination does not happen when you move out or return the keys. A registered Ejar contract stays active, with all its obligations, until it is formally ended through one of three official routes:
- Termination by both parties: the landlord or tenant applies on Ejar and the other side approves.
- Unilateral termination: a landlord service that requires a document issued by the enforcement authority.
- Lease contract transfer: the tenant hands the lease to a new tenant with the landlord's approval.
A job move, a family change or a final exit can make a long lease feel like a trap. Landlords face the opposite problem when a tenant stops paying or breaches the contract. In both cases, Ejar contract termination starts with one fact: once a lease is registered on Ejar, it has a status on the platform, and only an official procedure changes that status. If you are still at the contract stage, read our guide on lease contract documentation in Saudi Arabia for landlords and tenants first, because what you register today shapes how easily you can exit later.
Ejar Contract Termination: The Three Official Routes
Ejar lists its cancellation services under "Cancellation of Residential and Commercial Contracts". Mixing them up is the most common reason a request goes nowhere, so it helps to see them side by side:
| Point | Termination by both parties | Unilateral termination | Lease contract transfer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Who applies | Landlord or tenant | Landlord or their representative | The current tenant |
| Key requirement | The other party approves the request | An enforcement acknowledgment number and date, plus supporting documents | Approval from the landlord, the current tenant and the new tenant |
| Fee | No fee listed on the service page | No fee listed on the service page | SAR 250 residential, SAR 400 commercial |
| Timing | Complete once the other party approves | Requests reviewed within 5 working days | Complete once all parties approve |
| Result | The contract is terminated | The contract is terminated | The lease, with its rights and obligations, passes to the new tenant |
Source: Ejar, Cancellation of Residential and Commercial Contracts (Termination of the Contract by Both Parties) and related Ejar service pages.
Contract Expiry and Non-Renewal Are a Different Matter
Ending a lease midway is not the same as declining to renew it at the end of its term. Non-renewal depends on notice periods. The regulatory provisions governing landlord and tenant relations were issued by Royal Decree No. M/73 dated 2/4/1447 AH. The Real Estate General Authority (REGA) then required landlords using model residential lease contracts to give at least 365 days' notice before the contract ends when they do not want to renew so that they, or a first-degree relative, can use the property.
Other notice periods depend on those provisions and on your contract, so check yours well before you plan a move.
How to Cancel an Ejar Contract Online by Mutual Agreement
If both sides agree, mutual termination is the fastest route and the least likely to end in a dispute. Either the landlord or the tenant can start the request. Based on Ejar's service page, this is how to cancel an Ejar contract online:
- Log in to your Ejar accountOpen your list of contracts. If you cannot sign in, see our guide to Ejar login options and Nafath sign-in fixes.
- Find the contractSearch by contract number and select the termination option next to it.
- Choose a reason and end datePick the termination reason from the list and set the date the contract ends.
- Set the financial settlementChoose to settle all payments or the tenant's final payment. This step decides what each party pays, so agree on it in writing first.
- Review and confirmCheck the details and confirm. The request goes to the other party.
- The other party respondsThey open their requests list and either approve the termination or reject it with a reason.
- Termination is completedOnce approved, you receive a text message and the contract shows as terminated.
If the other party rejects the request, the contract remains active with all its obligations. You can confirm the current status at any time by following our guide on how to check and print a rental contract online in Saudi Arabia.
Leaving Early as a Tenant: What Are Your Options?
Ejar does not let a tenant end a registered lease alone. In practice, a tenant who needs to leave early has three paths: agree with the landlord on a mutual termination, hand the lease to someone else, or go through the courts if there is a breach or harm. Ejar's one-party termination page also notes that a termination ordered at the tenant's request follows a separate path on the platform.
Lease Contract Transfer: Hand the Lease to a New Tenant
When the landlord will not agree to end the contract, or you want to avoid paying for the remaining term, handing the lease over may be the practical exit. Ejar's tenant change service (known in Arabic as تقبيل العقد) allows a full assignment of a residential or commercial lease, so the new tenant takes over the contract with its rights and obligations.
- The current tenant starts the request and adds and verifies the new tenant's details.
- The landlord must approve, then the new tenant accepts the draft contract after confirming the declarations.
- The service fee is SAR 250 for residential and SAR 400 for commercial leases, paid from the tenant's Ejar wallet.
What Decides the Cost of Breaking a Lease?
There is no single official penalty for breaking a lease in Saudi Arabia, even though some websites quote fixed figures without a source. The cost comes from your contract, especially any penalty clause, and from what both sides agree in the financial settlement step. It also depends on the route you take:
| Route | What determines the cost |
|---|---|
| Mutual termination | The agreed financial settlement: all payments, or the tenant's final payment. |
| Transfer to a new tenant | The service fee (SAR 250 or 400). The remaining obligations move to the new tenant. |
| Court route | What the judgment or enforcement document decides, then the settlement in the cancellation request. |
| Leaving without any procedure | The contract stays active, and its obligations continue under its terms. |
The best time to deal with exit costs is before you sign. If you are drafting a new lease, review the payment and penalty terms using our guide on how to make a rental contract in Saudi Arabia step by step.
Unilateral Termination: The Landlord's Route Through Enforcement
A landlord cannot cancel a registered lease alone at will. Ejar's unilateral termination service (فسخ العقد من طرف واحد) is for the landlord or their representative, and it is used when the enforcement authority has ordered the unit vacated or the contract ended. It covers all residential and commercial contracts except those linked to sublease contracts.
- Main document: the enforcement acknowledgment number and date, with supporting documents.
- Optional documents: the court decision, the enforcement eviction notice, and proof of representation if applying for the owner.
- Settlement: the landlord selects settlement of all payments or a specific payment to the tenant.
- Timing: requests are reviewed within 5 working days, and the contract is terminated once accepted.
- Restriction: the landlord cannot file the request while other requests on the contract are pending.
Why a Registered Ejar Contract Carries Enforcement Power
The unified lease contract registered on Ejar is an executive instrument. According to the Ministry of Justice, based on Council of Ministers Decision No. 292, it gives its holder the right to apply directly to the enforcement court. That is a key reason a registered contract protects owners far better than a paper one. For the wider framework, see our overview of the real estate rental system in Saudi Arabia and how Ejar works.
Owners with several units often find that tracking renewals, pending requests and exits is easier with professional property management services in Riyadh.
Leaving Saudi Arabia or Moving Out? Close the Contract First
Many expat tenants ask whether they can simply leave the country with an active Ejar contract. The safe answer is to close it first. As long as the contract has not been formally ended, it stays active on Ejar with its obligations, whatever happens to the unit. Before a final exit or a move to another city:
- Start a mutual termination or a transfer to a new tenant early, while you can still sign in and respond to requests.
- Agree on the financial settlement with your landlord in writing before submitting.
- Wait until the contract shows as terminated, or the transfer is complete, before you leave.
Before You Hand Back the Keys: Steps People Skip
- Moving out before approval: the lease ends on the platform, not when the unit is empty.
- Skipping the settlement step: it decides who pays what, so do not leave it to chance.
- Relying on a verbal deal or a message: an agreement outside Ejar does not change the contract's status.
- Finding a replacement tenant without the landlord: a transfer needs the landlord's approval.
- Ignoring the penalty clause: read it before any decision, because it drives the cost in most cases.
Ejar Contract Termination: Questions Tenants and Landlords Ask
Can I cancel an Ejar contract before it ends?
Yes, but only through an official route: termination by both parties on Ejar, transferring the lease to a new tenant, or an enforcement document in a dispute. Moving out on its own does not end the contract.
Is handing back the keys enough to end the contract?
No. The contract stays active on Ejar until a termination request is approved, and its obligations continue. Check that it shows as terminated before you leave the unit.
How much does it cost to cancel an Ejar contract?
Ejar's service pages list no fee for termination by both parties or unilateral termination. A lease contract transfer costs SAR 250 for residential and SAR 400 for commercial leases. Any penalty depends on your contract and the agreed settlement.
What if my landlord refuses to cancel the Ejar contract?
The contract stays in force. You can ask the landlord to approve a transfer of the lease to a new tenant, or take the matter to the courts if there is a breach or harm.
Can I leave Saudi Arabia with an active Ejar contract?
The contract does not end when you leave. It remains active with its obligations until it is formally terminated or transferred, so start the process before your final exit.
Do the same steps apply to commercial leases?
Yes. Ejar's cancellation services cover both residential and commercial contracts. Contracts linked to subleases are excluded from the one-party termination service.
Can I claim compensation if my lease is terminated early?
That depends on the contract or, in a dispute, the court's decision. If the contract includes a penalty clause, it applies as written. Otherwise, it comes down to what both parties agree or what the court rules.
What to Remember Before Ending an Ejar Contract
- Ejar contract termination happens on the platform, not when a tenant moves out.
- Mutual termination is the fastest route, and Ejar lists no service fee for it.
- For an early exit without termination, a lease contract transfer lets a tenant leave for SAR 250 (residential) or SAR 400 (commercial).
- A landlord's one-party termination needs an enforcement document and is reviewed within 5 working days.
Want a lease that is clear from day one?Abdulmohsin Al Rossais & Sons Group Co. helps landlords and tenants prepare and register lease contracts, and manages properties through to the end of each contract.
Related Rental Guides
This guide is for general information, is updated regularly and is not legal advice. For specific cases or disputes, consult a qualified legal professional. Ejar and the relevant government authorities are the final reference.