Latest news with #SaudiGigaProjectsSummit2025
Mid East Info
14-05-2025
- Business
- Mid East Info
Mega Contracts and World Records Take Centre Stage at Day Two of MEED's Saudi Giga Projects Summit - Middle East Business News and Information
Major announcements from Diriyah Company, Sports Boulevard and AlUla Development Company signal Vision 2030 in full acceleration Riyadh, Saudi Arabia – May 2025:From $20bn in upcoming fit-out contracts to the world's tallest indoor climbing wall, Day Two of MEED's Saudi Giga Projects Summit 2025 spotlighted the ambition and scale of Saudi Arabia's transformation, delivering real progress in sustainable urban development, innovation, and private investment. Taking place at The Venue by ROSHN group, the three-day summit (12–14 May) features more than 70 expert speakers and project leaders driving forward the Kingdom's development priorities under Vision 2030. Opening the day, conference chairman Lucien Zeigler, Managing Partner at RedSalt Advisory Company, underlined the collective responsibility behind Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030: 'From ministers to citizens, we are all stakeholders.' The Summit included key updates from the country's biggest projects. A standout update came from Diriyah Company, where Executive Director of Retail Design and Delivery Sharat Kumar revealed that the company is preparing to offer fit-out works worth approximately SR20bn ($5.3bn) across a wide portfolio that includes retail, commercial, and educational assets. Kumar added that since the project's inception, Diriyah has awarded over $20bn in construction contracts from a total budget of $63bn, covering three masterplans: Diriyah, Wadi Safar and Wadi Hanifa. The Sports Boulevard Foundation also made headlines, confirming that the design phase for its 130-metre-tall Global Sports Tower is now complete, with construction to begin next year. The 84,000sqm facility will host more than 30 sports disciplines, including the world's tallest indoor climbing wall (98m) and a 250m running track. The broader Sports Boulevard will become the world's longest linear park, stretching over 135 kilometres across Riyadh. A headline panel on 'Innovation and Urban Design for Smart Infrastructure' brought together leaders from ROSHN, King Salman Park Foundation, Jacobs, Kirkland & Ellis and Sustainability Professionals of Saudi Arabia to explore how smart cities can deliver quality of life through mobility, sustainability, and human-centric design. Robbie McBratney of ROSHN Group noted that 'For ROSHN, smart cities are not about retrofitting – sustainability is in the DNA of the project.' Building on the day's focus on digital innovation, a dedicated workshop hosted by Nemetschek Group turned the spotlight on AI-driven design, digital twins, and smarter collaboration across architecture and construction. With a €14 billion market cap and 7.5 million users worldwide, Nemetschek is actively partnering with Saudi stakeholders to reshape how cities are designed and built. Private sector involvement in giga projects was also a focus, with insight on easing budget pressure and boosting investment. Khaled Alrubaian of the National Center for Privatization (NCP) revealed that upcoming partnership opportunities are valued at around $150 billion. As the summit concludes tomorrow, discussions will look ahead to Saudi Arabia's next chapter, with an agenda tackling infrastructure challenges, scaling water delivery, and preparing for globally significant events including the 2029 Asian Winter Games, Riyadh Expo 2030, and the FIFA World Cup 2034. About MEEDMEED is the Middle East's leading business intelligence and events platform. Since 1957, it has delivered essential news, analysis, and data on the region's biggest projects, economies, and business trends. MEED Events convene decision-makers, project leaders, and innovators to shape the future of the region through curated summits, awards, and insight-led
Mid East Info
14-05-2025
- Business
- Mid East Info
Saudi Arabia to Build Over 180,000 Hotel and Serviced Apartments by 2034 to Host FIFA World Cup - Middle East Business News and Information
MEED's Saudi Giga Project Summit showcases key developments in infrastructure, digitalization, and investment milestones Riyadh, Saudi Arabia – May 2025: Saudi Arabia is planning to build more than 180,000 hotel and serviced apartments by 2034 as part of its ambitious infrastructure drive to host the FIFA World Cup. On the concluding day of MEED's Saudi Giga Projects Summit 2025, the day's agenda focus on the projects transforming the Kingdom's urban landscape, with stadiums, transport networks, and hospitality infrastructure all undergoing rapid expansion. Ed James, MEED, opened the day's agenda with a keynote presentation on the Kingdom's stadium infrastructure programme, which is scaling rapidly to support the FIFA World Cup 2034, AFC Asian Cup 2027, Riyadh Expo 2030, and the 2029 Asian Winter Games. Ed James, Head of Content & Research at MEED, captured the significance of these projects: 'Saudi Arabia's giga projects are not just about breaking ground, they are about redefining how cities, infrastructure, and communities are built for the long term. This is a transformative moment, setting new global benchmarks for sustainability, digitalization, and resilience.' A panel on 'Delivering Priority Event-Driven Projects' explored innovations in modular construction, immersive LED integration, and climate-adaptive designs shaping stadium venues like the Prince Mohammed bin Salman Stadium. Fatemeh Hosseini of Populous revealed that research into climate performance has led to design features capable of reducing surface temperatures by up to 8°C, significantly cutting energy consumption from air conditioning. Terry Fetters, Vice President at Parsons and Project Director of the Riyadh Metro, delivered an in-depth look at one of Saudi Arabia's most ambitious urban mobility undertakings. Since its launch, the Riyadh Metro has transported 18 million passengers in just its first 75 days of operation, with 10 million rides on the Blue Line alone. 'It has become the spine of Riyadh,' said Fetters, noting the system's impact on urban accessibility, congestion reduction, and sustainability. Fetters recognised the project's success in navigating logistical challenges, including managing a workforce that peaked at 63,000 people. Built in just over a decade, the Riyadh Metro is now a global benchmark for mega transport projects. The Saudi Water Partnership Company (SWPC) also presented on its expanding portfolio, highlighting 10.5 million tonnes of carbon emissions saved annually and over $12 billion in private investment attracted since launch. In a significant milestone for the Kingdom's digital transformation, Germany's €14 billion Nemetschek Group officially entered the Saudi Arabian market at the Summit. The expansion was formalized through four MoU signings with Saudi partners NESMA, Building Smart, Wakecap, and Concerted Solutions, bringing Nemetschek's global AEC/O software portfolio closer to one of the world's most ambitious construction markets. This move strengthens Saudi Arabia's push for integrated digital solutions in architecture, engineering, and construction. As MEED's Saudi Giga Project Summit concludes for 2025, the momentum was unmistakable. Saudi Arabia's giga projects are not just breaking ground, they're breaking records. About MEED: MEED is the Middle East's leading business intelligence and events platform. Since 1957, it has delivered essential news, analysis, and data on the region's biggest projects, economies, and business trends. MEED Events convene decision-makers, project leaders, and innovators to shape the future of the region through curated summits, awards, and insight-led
Mid East Info
20-04-2025
- Business
- Mid East Info
MEED Announces its Saudi Giga Projects 2025 Summit: Pioneering the Future of Construction and Infrastructure
Many of the world's largest construction projects to be showcased Riyadh- Saudi Arabia awarded just under $148bn worth of contracts in 2024, the highest total ever recorded by a single country in the GCC, as its giga projects programme enters full swing. The total is more than double the $287bn total for the region as a whole last year, itself a record high according to MEED data. The Kingdom's projects market performance was driven by its construction and infrastructure sectors, which together reached $49bn, the majority of which was comprised by expenditure on giga projects. Data from the MEED Projects database reveals that an estimated $105bn worth of work has already been contracted on the on $870bn-plus giga projects programme, highlighting that most of the activity is still to come. It is in this context that MEED is proud to announce the return of its Saudi Giga Projects Summit for 2025. Hosted in Riyadh at The Venue by ROSHN Group between 12 and 14 May, the event aims to present an in-depth showcase and analysis of the Kingdom's ongoing giga projects, serving as a platform for construction updates, progress reports, and networking opportunities among key executives and stakeholders in the Saudi construction sector. The giga projects program is at the heart of Saudi Arabia's 2030 Vision aimed at transforming the kingdom into a tourism and entertainment hub while creating hundreds of thousands of new jobs. The Saudi Giga Projects 2025 Summit focuses on key projects, spotlighting Soudah Development, The Boutique Group, ROSHN, Red Sea Global, Diriyah, AlUla, NEOM, King Salman Park and New Murabba among others. The Saudi Giga Projects Summit 2025 will provide participants with a comprehensive understanding of the Kingdom's ambitious construction endeavours. Beyond project updates, the event serves as a gateway to explore a broader spectrum of prospects within every facet of the construction industry. Attendees will gain insights into supply chain resilience, demand signals, advanced manufacturing techniques, and the latest technologies shaping the sector's future. The event is proud to announce Al Baddad International, Qatar Exports and Saudi Binladin Group as this year's platinum sponsors. The gold sponsors are Autodesk, Nemetschek Group, Procore Technologies and UNIMAC. About MEED: MEED is a business intelligence company that encompasses a subscription website and magazine, regular C-level executive conferences and summits hosted by MEED Events, awards programmes, and two high-value content businesses: MEED Projects and MEED Insight. MEED is the world's leading source of Middle East business intelligence. Established in 1957, it has been integral to delivering business information and news, intelligence and analysis on the Middle East economies and activities ever since. Attracting a key senior management audience through its content and activities, MEED is a media brand and publication that unlocks business opportunities in one of the world's fastest-growing business regions.
