Riyadh Redefines the Future of Urban Development
Just days ago, the Saudi capital, Riyadh, concluded the events of the Cityscape Global 2025 exhibition. This event is no longer just a traditional real estate exhibition but has transformed into a global platform that encapsulates the ambitions of the ambitious Saudi Vision 2030. Under the slogan "The Future of Urban Life," the exhibition, inaugurated by His Excellency the Minister of Municipalities and Housing, Majid bin Abdullah Al-Hogail, witnessed unprecedented achievements in terms of deals and international attendance, reinforcing the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's position as the world's largest magnet for real estate development.
With high-level official presence and participation, His Excellency Minister Majid Al-Hogail inaugurated the exhibition, affirming in his speech that Cityscape has become a global Saudi platform reflecting the urban and economic development achieved by the Kingdom. His Excellency clarified that work in the sector proceeds according to the directives of the leadership to realize the ambitions of Vision 2030, which has provided full support to enable both the public and private sectors to deliver everything that meets the aspirations of the citizen and elevates the quality of life in cities.
The participation of the Real Estate General Authority (REGA) was not merely a formal presence; it came as the patron of the exhibition, showcasing through its dedicated pavilion the system of modern legislation and regulations aimed at developing the regulatory environment and enhancing the attractiveness of investment in the Saudi real estate market.
The exhibition recorded record numbers on all levels, from the number of visitors and attendees to the volume of deals announced, rightfully making it the largest real estate exhibition in the world this year.
Minister Al-Hogail announced that the total value of real estate deals achieved during the exhibition days exceeded 237 billion Saudi Riyals (equivalent to over 63 billion US dollars). Other reports indicated that anticipated deals from the exhibition surpass 161 billion Riyals (43 billion dollars), a record figure that reflects the market's vitality and the strong confidence in it.
The number of exhibitors exceeded 550 entities, and more than 470 international speakers participated in the events, with attendance representing over 120 countries worldwide. This massive gathering is a clear indicator of the global attractiveness that Saudi Arabia enjoys as a center for real estate investment and innovation.
The exhibition's role was not limited to being a marketplace for deals; it was a comprehensive platform for showcasing the latest trends and technologies that will shape the features of future cities.
The exhibition featured a wide display of PropTech (property technology) offering advanced digital solutions in asset management and urban planning, in addition to innovations in modern construction techniques. Minister Al-Hogail emphasized that the digital transformation in the Saudi real estate sector, including the adoption of artificial intelligence and modern construction methods, has changed both the customer experience and the rules of investment simultaneously.
On the sidelines of the exhibition, the Real Estate General Authority (REGA) announced the completion of the world's first regulatory-supervised coding of a real estate ownership title deed and the establishment of the first global coding standards for this purpose. This innovation represents a radical shift in the mechanisms of property ownership and trading and will place the Kingdom among the first countries to regulate such advanced systems.
On the other hand, massive giga-projects like "NEOM," "Qiddiya," and "Diriyah" represented the crown jewels of the exhibition, highlighting how these dreams have transitioned from paper to a reality being built at a record speed, benefiting from investments exceeding 500 billion dollars over the past five years.
The Cityscape Global 2025 exhibition comes within the Kingdom's endeavors to enhance investment opportunities and create an attractive environment for investors from within and outside the Kingdom.
Minister Al-Hogail revealed that the share of the construction, building, and real estate sectors of the total incoming Foreign Direct Investment flows reached 15.27%, reflecting the sector's growing stature as an attractive global destination.
Meanwhile, the REGA showcased at its pavilion the updated system for non-Saudi ownership of real estate, scheduled to come into effect in January 2026. This system is a pivotal step in enhancing the Kingdom's openness and investment attractiveness.
The policy of openness has not conflicted with supporting citizens, as the homeownership rate among Saudis rose to over 65% by the end of 2024, thanks to the growth in real estate financing, which reached a volume of 960 billion Riyals. Furthermore, construction and real estate activities contribute approximately 13.8% to the Gross Domestic Product and provide about 15.5% of the total jobs in the Kingdom.
With the conclusion of Cityscape Global 2025, the exhibition has successfully translated the ambitious Saudi Vision into a tangible reality. Urban development in the Kingdom is no longer just about construction projects but has transformed into "building cities for future generations," as described by His Excellency Minister Al-Hogail.
This astounding success is not an endpoint but a launching pad towards broader horizons. With the vision of its leadership and the precision of its execution, the Kingdom continues to present a unique global model in how to turn ambitious economic and developmental visions into a tangible reality that shapes the future.
