Property Law for NRIs in Saudi Arabia

NRIs living in Saudi Arabia dealing with property in India face a genuine practical wrinkle: Saudi Arabia joined the Hague Apostille Convention on 7 December 2022, but many Indian Sub-Registrar offices are still more familiar with the older Indian Embassy attestation route, so NRIs in Saudi Arabia effectively have two workable paths rather than one. This hub covers both routes for a Power of Attorney, along with TDS and repatriation rules for selling inherited property, specifically as they apply from Saudi Arabia.

Key Authorities & Frameworks That Apply

Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) -- issues the apostille for a notarized document, since Saudi Arabia has been a Hague Apostille Convention member since 7 December 2022.
Indian Embassy, Riyadh (or a Consulate) -- alternatively, a POA can be executed directly before a Consular Officer, who can attest it without a separate Saudi MOFA step first; the Embassy also publishes a POA-for-property attestation fee.
Indian sub-registrar's office (India) -- adjudicates stamp duty and registers the POA; some Sub-Registrars still expect the Embassy-attested route in practice despite the apostille's legal validity.
Income Tax Department, India and Reserve Bank of India (FEMA) -- govern TDS on the sale and repatriation of proceeds to Saudi Arabia.

Complete Guides for NRIs in Saudi Arabia

Power of Attorney for NRIs in Saudi Arabia -- Apostille, Embassy Route & Registration
An NRI in Saudi Arabia has two workable routes for a Power of Attorney used for Indian property matters: notarization followed by a Saudi MOFA apostille (Saudi Arabia has been a Hague Apostille Convention member since 7 December 2022), or executing the POA directly before a Consular Officer at the Indian Embassy in Riyadh or a Consulate.
Selling Inherited Property in India as an NRI in Saudi Arabia -- TDS, Capital Gains & Repatriation
When an NRI in Saudi Arabia sells inherited property in India, the buyer must deduct TDS under Section 195 of the Income Tax Act, generally at 20% plus applicable surcharge and cess on long-term capital gains.