King Abdulaziz University (KAU) runs three residential complexes for students who come from outside Jeddah, but I could not find published room prices, and private rentals in Saudi Arabia must go through the government’s Ejar platform, where the security deposit is held. This guide sets out what KAU says about its housing, how Ejar rental contracts and deposits work, and what I could not verify.
Details come from KAU’s housing and scholarship pages and Ejar, run by the Real Estate General Authority, checked on 26 October 2026. I have not given Jeddah rent figures, because I could not verify current prices against reliable sources.
King Abdulaziz University housing
- Who it is for: KAU says housing is primarily for students coming from outside Jeddah, and it is reserved for full-time students at the main campus.
- Where: three main residential complexes run by the Student Housing Department of the Deanship of Student Affairs, with separate housing for male and female students.
- Facilities: furnished rooms, internet, round-the-clock maintenance, mosques, sports halls and game rooms, lounges, kitchens, laundry rooms, and air-conditioned buses between the housing and the faculties.
- Room types: single rooms, double rooms and Rabigh student housing rooms for male students. Rooms are assigned only according to availability.
- Applying: students register online and attach the required documents. The status then shows as under review, approved or rejected, and a medical report is required.
- Paying: male students pay at the housing office with a Mada card. Female students deposit the fees into the Student Fund’s bank account. KAU says the fees are non-refundable.
- Female students: KAU says document verification takes place in person at the female students’ housing, and the student must be accompanied by a guardian or an authorised representative with a legal power of attorney.
KAU’s page does not state the fee amounts, and the registration dates it shows belong to the 1446 AH academic year, so contact the housing offices for the current fees and dates. KAU says its international scholarships typically cover tuition, accommodation and living expenses, so scholarship students should check their award terms before looking for housing elsewhere.
Renting privately: Ejar contracts and deposits
Ejar is Saudi Arabia’s digital rental platform. A law firm advising on Saudi leasing says use of the Unified Residential Contract is mandatory so that the lease can be registered on Ejar. Do not rely on a verbal or private paper agreement, and insist that the contract is registered on Ejar before you pay anything.
- Deposit: if a security deposit is specified, Ejar says it must be registered and held on the platform, with Ejar acting as a neutral party. If no deposit is specified, documenting the contract is not affected.
- How you pay it: before you approve the contract, you top up your Ejar e-wallet if needed, and the system reserves the deposit amount automatically.
- If the contract falls through: if the landlord does not approve the contract, or it is not documented, the reserved amount is released back to your e-wallet balance.
- Getting it back: when the contract ends, Ejar refunds the deposit based on the move-in and move-out form that both sides approve. Photograph the property when you move in and agree the move-in form carefully.
Reports differ on whether a legal cap applies to the deposit, so check the figure on the Ejar contract before you approve it.
What I could not verify
I could not verify current private rents in Jeddah or the housing rules at other universities in the city, including the University of Jeddah and Effat University, so check each university’s housing office. I have not ranked neighbourhoods or listed private blocks. View a room in person or on a live video call and never pay before you have a registered contract. Before you commit, read our guide to university halls versus private housing, the checklist of what to look for before you sign and our safety guide. For other Saudi cities, see our guides to Riyadh and Al Khobar, or browse all student accommodation in Saudi Arabia.
FAQs about student accommodation in Jeddah
Does King Abdulaziz University have student housing?
Yes. KAU says it has three residential complexes, mainly for full-time students who come from outside Jeddah, with separate housing for male and female students.
How much does KAU housing cost?
KAU’s housing page does not publish amounts. It says fees are non-refundable once paid, so ask the housing offices for the current fee before you pay.
What is Ejar and do I need it?
Ejar is Saudi Arabia’s official digital platform for registering rental contracts. If you rent privately, the lease should be registered there, and any security deposit must be held on the platform.
Who holds my security deposit in Saudi Arabia?
Ejar holds it as a neutral party and refunds it using the approved move-in and move-out form when the contract ends.
Sources
- King Abdulaziz University: university housing for students
- King Abdulaziz University: scholarships for international students
- Ejar: security deposit holding service
- Al Tamimi and Company: leasing in Saudi Arabia
All checked 26 October 2026.
