Infrastructure $54bn private investment sought for Abu Dhabi infrastructure Abu Dhabi is overseeing more than 600 infrastructure projects valued at more than AED200 billion ($54 billion), representing an opportunity for the private sector to collaborate on a pipeline of projects that are integral to the emirate’s Economic Vision 2030 plan, a senior official said. The projects, being led by the Abu Dhabi Projects and […] December 2, 2024
Giga-projects Riyadh hopes to entice private sector to landmark projects Riyadh is courting private-sector investors to fuel its ambitious development agenda, offering significant opportunities but grappling with resistance from companies citing financial risks, a senior official said. The push to involve private firms highlights Saudi Arabia’s challenges as it transitions from government-led development to growth driven by the private sector, a pillar of its Vision […] November 29, 2024
Analysis Giga-projects Rise in major US law firms setting up in Saudi Arabia Attracted by the host of complex and potentially lucrative legal issues raised by Saudi Arabia’s development push, several of the largest law firms in the US are formally setting up shop in the kingdom, either directly or through mergers and acquisitions. Among those making the leap is Atlanta-based company King & Spalding. A spokesperson confirmed […] November 28, 2024
Economy Saudi Arabia forecasts 2025 fiscal deficit of $27bn Saudi Arabia has approved its 2025 state budget, which estimates total revenues at SAR1.18 trillion ($314 billion) and expenditures at SAR1.28 trillion – resulting in a fiscal deficit of SAR101 billion ($26.9 billion). The finance ministry said this would represent 2.3 percent of gross domestic product, which is lower than the 3 percent of GDP […] November 27, 2024
Construction Private money leading charge in Saudi construction industry Private sector participation in Saudi Arabia’s construction industry is powering investment in the sector, according to a senior economist. Overall gross fixed capital formation – a measure of investment in an economy’s infrastructure, schools and other physical assets, as well as related tools and machinery – is up 3 percent year on year in the […] November 21, 2024
Giga-projects Saudi’s Diriyah adds cultural districts to $63bn plan Diriyah Company, backed by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, has started construction on multi-billion dollar educational and arts districts in the $63.2 billion giga-project. Spanning an area of 14 sq km, the “world’s biggest urban development projects” will house the Qurain Cultural District and Northern District. The Qurain Cultural District will include a range of arts, […] November 21, 2024
Giga-projects Saudi Arabia’s big bet on ‘immersive cities’ Kingdom's plans for cities enhanced with virtual reality could be a blueprint for others to follow November 20, 2024
Analysis Construction Leaders of The Line share vision of a brave new world Its managers and designers say it is the human society of the future, but others might see in it a dystopian vision of life shielded in a glass box from an uninhabitable world. Leading figures behind the Neom city The Line – the boldest of Saudi Arabia’s $1.25 trillion giga-projects – made a coordinated pitch […] November 15, 2024
Analysis Giga-projects Saudi giga-projects are going local with new focus Giga-projects gaining local focus Providing for Saudi families Prices may still be too high for locals A nationalist sensitivity towards the leadership and aims of Saudi Arabia’s massive giga-projects is slowly taking hold, as foreign CEO... Register now: It’s easy and free This content is available for registered members only. Register for your free account […] November 14, 2024
Construction Banks vying to fund Roshn’s Saudi expansion Interest in PIF-backed Roshn Turning away lenders Plan is backed by consortium Saudi real estate developer Roshn, a subsidiary of the Public Investment Fund (PIF), is reporting strong interest from banks eager to finance its projects, ... November 14, 2024
Giga-projects Neom’s Trojena to launch first apartment sales in new year The Saudi winter resort of Trojena will begin putting its first residential apartments and villas on the market within a few months, a senior official said on Wednesday, after its parent company Neom announced a new CEO in an effort to reinvigorate the giga-project. “2025 is very exciting for us at Trojena, we’re hoping early […] November 14, 2024
Construction Former CEO sues Roshn for $100m over ‘unpaid bonuses’ The former CEO of Roshn, David Grover, is suing the Saudi property developer for more than $100 million, claiming unpaid bonuses and wrongful termination. Grover, who lost the initial stage of his case against the state-owned company in October, has appealed to a higher court in Riyadh, the Financial Times reports. Grover alleges that Roshn […] November 13, 2024
Video length: 06:30 VIDEO Real Estate Minister trumpets Saudi Arabia’s $168bn housing push Real estate transactions in Saudi Arabia have totalled $168 billion so far this year, the Saudi minister of municipalities and housing, Majed Al Hogail, told a real estate forum in Riyadh this week. Speaking at the Cityscape exhibition, which is trying to promote Riyadh-centred giga-projects, the minister said that Saudi Arabia is pushing to finish […] November 13, 2024
Video length: 06:30 VIDEO Giga-projects Neom replaces CEO in bid to move past negative headlines Saudi megacity Neom has replaced its CEO Nadhmi Al Nasr in an apparent effort to boost the kingdom’s highest-profile giga-project after a string of delays. Aiman Al Mudaifer has been appointed “acting CEO of the company”, Neom said in a statement on Tuesday. “Al Mudaifer assumes the leadership of Neom following Nadhmi Al Nasr’s departure.” […] November 12, 2024
EXCLUSIVE Business of Sport Roshn seeks contractors for Riyadh World Cup stadium Saudi real estate developer Roshn is inviting expressions of interest from international and local contractors for its 45,000-seat football stadium in Riyadh. Iain McBride, Roshn’s head of commercial, said the Public Investment Fund subsidiary was actively seeking partners “very early in the process” to help “de-risk” the project. “What we don’t want is to design, […] November 6, 2024
Economy Saudi Arabia’s deficit rises again as oil output cuts bite Saudi Arabia’s budget deficit was SAR58 billion ($15.5 billion) in the first nine months of 2024, rising by SAR30 billion in the third quarter alone and confirming predictions of a funding crunch for the country’s giga-projects. The finance ministry said in October that it expects to post an overall deficit of SAR118 billion this year […] November 5, 2024
Giga-projects Diriyah delays completion date as projects vie for funds The historical district of Diriyah, one of Saudi Arabia’s major giga-projects, will be completed in time for the World Expo in 2030 – three years later than previously announced, its CEO Jerry Inzerillo said on Wednesday. The giga-projects, valued in total at more than $1.25 trillion, are competing for government and private sector resources amid […] October 31, 2024
Analysis Giga-projects The remaking of Riyadh ahead of World Expo 2030 Expo 2030 is already propelling real estate development in Riyadh six years before the international fair is scheduled to take place – and, along with other giga-projects, is helping to shift the city’s core to the north. The World Expo, which typically takes place in a different city every five years, is expected to occupy […] October 31, 2024
Giga-projects Neom raises $24 billion from the private sector The Saudi giga-project Neom has secured SAR60 billion ($16 billion) in private sector funding and SAR30 billion ($8 billion) in loans as it tries to move away from reliance on government cash. The revelation was made by deputy CEO Rayan Fayez to the Future Investment Initiative forum in Riyadh on Wednesday. Fayez said: “What we’ve […] October 30, 2024
Analysis Giga-projects Saudi Arabia pins branding hopes on Riyadh Air launch Saudi Arabia still hasn’t found the magic sauce for branding its social and economic reforms. Hopes are high that the launch of Riyadh Air will do for the kingdom what Emirates airline did for Dubai, industry experts say. “We saw the journey of the UAE, how brands started there then became iconic on a global […] October 25, 2024
Opinion Banking & Finance IMF proves Saudi banks have reasons for optimism Over the long term the kingdom’s banks will benefit from the scale of spending on Vision 2030 projects October 23, 2024
Giga-projects PIF launches company to build worker accommodation Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) has established a company to develop and operate accommodation for workers employed on major projects in the kingdom. Smart Accommodation for Residential Complexes Company (Sarcc) will build workers’ accommodation for both public and private sector developers who are working on projects across the country. Sarcc will also seek opportunities […] October 21, 2024