by: TN Media Riyadh: Saudi Arabia has announced plans to develop over 180,000 hotel and serviced apartments by 2034 to support its role as host of the FIFA World Cup, as revealed at the concluding session of MEED’s Saudi Giga Projects Summit 2025 in Riyadh.
The event spotlighted the Kingdom’s massive infrastructure push across stadiums, transport, and hospitality sectors, also aligned with major global events including the AFC Asian Cup 2027, Riyadh Expo 2030, and the 2029 Asian Winter Games.
Ed James, Head of Content & Research at MEED, emphasized the transformative nature of these projects: “Saudi Arabia is setting new benchmarks in sustainability, digitalization, and resilient urban development.”
Key sessions included insights into innovative stadium designs, such as the Prince Mohammed bin Salman Stadium, with features reducing surface temperatures by 8°C to enhance energy efficiency. Meanwhile, Terry Fetters, Project Director of Riyadh Metro, shared that the new metro has already served 18 million passengers in 75 days, calling it “the spine of Riyadh.”
The Saudi Water Partnership Company (SWPC) reported saving 10.5 million tonnes of carbon emissions annually and attracting over $12 billion in private investment.
A notable digital milestone came with Germany’s Nemetschek Group entering the Saudi market via four MoUs with local partners, accelerating the Kingdom’s integration of global AEC/O digital solutions.
As the summit concluded, it underscored Saudi Arabia’s momentum in reshaping its urban and digital landscapes to meet the demands of a future defined by mega-events and giga-projects.
