Dubai often attracts multinationals looking for a base to serve the wider region. Saudi Arabia, though armed with a much bigger economy and population than the nearby emirate, can be overlooked.
This is about to change, said Nicholas Maclean, managing director for the Middle East at the real estate services firm CBRE. He believes that economic and political reforms spearheaded by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman are drawing the attention of international and GCC-based corporates and investors.
“We see a significant increase in the interest in Saudi Arabia. They want to know what is going on. They are interested in the changes — and they are interested in looking at the country for opportunities,” he said.
Over the past year, Saudi Arabia has lifted the 35-year ban on cinemas, announced plans to build up its tourism sector with luxury resorts on islands in the Red Sea, and revealed details of a new $500 billion business and industrial zone development, called Neom, which will have links to Jordan and Egypt.
“The level of enquiry we have to produce reports or give some commentary on Saudi Arabia to the US and Western Europe has gone up tenfold in the last 18 months,” he said, noting that interest spans sectors including retail, pharmaceuticals, defense, and hospitality.
However, a scarcity of appropriate real estate assets to buy will be a challenge for some of those interested investors.
“The nature of the real estate they require doesn’t exist at the moment. So we see corporates through their funding partnerships looking to create facilities that are fresh,” Maclean said.
The potential of the residential housing sector is another area catching the eye of international developers, particularly from the US, which, Maclean said, are looking to partner with Saudi organizations or families.
“Some of the big housing schemes are probably not in the locations where people want to be — so building housing en masse for young Saudis in locations where they want to live and have jobs is an opportunity for big international house builders,” he said.
With more international firms looking to find, manage or invest in property within Saudi Arabia, it has become increasingly relevant for CBRE to have a presence in the Kingdom.
“Now is the right time to go into the country,” Maclean said.
CBRE has signed a partnership agreement with local firm Dar Al-Riyadh and has been busily recruiting staff for the new office. It is set to bring in a team of members between now and August, and plans to host two launch events planned for October.
“We see that as Saudi Arabia appears to open the doors for more internationalization of its business sector, then we need to be there,” said Maclean.
The company currently has an operational presence in the Kingdom, offering services from Saudi Arabia that fall under its “Global Workspace Solutions” business line.
This area of business — which includes facilities management services — is designed for CBRE’s international corporate occupier clients. These companies could be occupying anything from offices to retail outlets or manufacturing spaces.
Maclean envisaged a “full service business” being offered in the Kingdom in the next few years, which will include a consulting division as well as other business lines such as advisory and transaction services and valuation services.
He is upbeat about the expansion, predicting Saudi business will grow “very fast.”
“It will at least match the scale of the businesses across the rest of the region put together within a relatively short period of time of three, four or five years,” he said.
CBRE’s growth ambitions in Saudi Arabia will benefit from what Maclean sees as a greater “willingness” and “change of attitude” among Saudis to work with companies overseas.
Examples of this willingness could be seen last year when foreign investors were allowed to participate in initial public offerings in the Kingdom, as well as to access a parallel stock market for small and medium-sized businesses.
International cinema chains from the UK and US were the first companies to sign deals to launch multiplexes in the country after the lifting of the ban in December.
“Where the challenge is for us is ensuring we bring some of the international expertise we have and make sure we fit culturally, and it is not insulting or patronizing to the local market,” he said.
Saudis themselves will play an important role in the growth of CBRE’s business, Maclean said, explaining that around half the workforce will be Saudi.
“We want to take young Saudis out of the country and put them through an international training program and bring them back,” he said.
While Saudi Arabia is now catching the eye of corporates, the business and trade hub of Dubai has clung on to its appeal to international business.
The low oil prices seen in recent years had posed a threat to the emirate, with some companies — particularly in the oil and gas sector — downsizing their operations and reviewing whether they really needed their expensive high-rise offices.
Maclean said he had seen signs that Dubai is getting much busier again.
“The drive back from Abu Dhabi to Dubai is painful again in the evenings,” he said anecdotally, referring to the increasingly busy main road linking the two emirates. “Getting around Dubai … it feels busier,” he said.
Maclean added that CBRE has enjoyed its “best year ever” in 2017 in Dubai’s commercial property sector, particularly among the Fortune 500 corporate clients.
This was in part due to many larger companies going through a consolidation process, moving to smaller offices, or taking fewer floors or even sharing property with others. CBRE provided advisory and other services that support those moves.
The quality of new available properties has also improved, Maclean said, noting there has been a “flight to quality.”
A CBRE research note released in February said that sustained occupier demand for good-quality office accommodation is likely to stay “relatively firm” for the next few quarters.
However, available office space will continue to outstrip demand as new completed properties come on to the market, the note said. This has placed particular pressure on “secondary quality” office space.
“The primary segment of the marketplace in Dubai and Abu Dhabi is going to perform quite well over the next two or three years, and probably the secondary or tertiary market will perform less well,” Maclean said.
Dubai-based companies, as well as those elsewhere in the UAE, are also paying much closer attention to how the office environment can help retain staff, which opens up opportunities for CBRE.
“We see more creativity in the interior designs,” he said, noting rising demand for more breakout spaces, and other features aimed at making the workplace a more pleasant place to be.
Retail is another area where CBRE sees increasing opportunity to offer its services, and the company recruited a new team focusing on this sector last year.
Dubai’s malls have long been a vital cog in the emirate’s economy, attracting tourists and locals alike to shop, eat, go to the cinema and even ski.
But with the launch of online retailer noon.com in September and Amazon buying souq.com, the sector is facing fresh challenges.
“Finding the balance between bricks and mortar and online is something we have people that specialize in around the world,” said Maclean. Retailers across the UAE are also dealing with the new value-added tax (VAT) which came into force at the beginning of this year.
However, one of the biggest opportunities in the commercial sector could be to open up the UAE’s commercial real estate market to more international investment, Maclean said.
“From an institutional perspective, there is some level of frustration. “There are lots of institutions that want to take a stake in Dubai but don’t. The nature of the market is relatively illiquid because that stock that comes to market, outside of the residential sector, is snapped up by GCC investors,” he said.
These buyers then tend to hold on rather than sell these assets.
“There is a really interesting opportunity for the UAE to capture a greater slice of foreign institutional capital moving around the world,” he said.
On the residential side, Dubai is preparing for a flood of new units to come onto the market which may keep property prices subdued.
Close to about 30,000 new units were added in 2017, according to CBRE figures published in February. The company has forecast that more than 90,000 new apartments and villas could enter the market between 2018 and 2020.
Maclean said there is always a “question mark” over whether the planned properties will be delivered on time, adding that developers may alter the delivery pipeline depending on demand.
Yet, this excess of supply coupled with reduced prices has lured many buyers back to the market.
Sales of off-plan properties increased by about 56 percent in 2017 compared to the previous year, in terms of the number of transactions, while the total value of sales increased 44 percent on the previous year, according to CBRE data.
“What we deduce from that is that gradually declining prices have reached a level which encouraged people to come back to the market,” he said.
It’s the ‘right time’ to move into Saudi Arabia, says CBRE
It’s the ‘right time’ to move into Saudi Arabia, says CBRE
How lifestyle-led real estate is reshaping Saudi Arabia’s urban future
- Government spending, regulatory changes, and incentives for foreign investors are fueling development
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s real estate sector is entering a new phase, one defined by lifestyle, experience, and quality of life rather than sheer housing volume.
Driven by Vision 2030, lifestyle-focused developments are set to outperform traditional residential projects, reshaping how people live, work, and connect across the Kingdom.
Government spending, regulatory changes, and incentives for foreign investors are also fueling development. Rising demand across residential, commercial, and logistics sectors, along with the push for smart cities and sustainability, is reshaping the market.
Saudi Arabia’s real estate market was valued at $77.2 billion in 2025 and is projected to grow to $137.8 billion by 2034, with a compound annual growth rate of 6.7 percent from 2026 to 2034, according to IMARC Group.
Lifestyle-focused real estate market
Saudi Arabia’s real estate landscape has evolved beyond conventional housing. Guided by Vision 2030, it now plays a key role in enhancing quality of life, boosting tourism, and driving economic diversification.
According to Sally Menassa, partner at Arthur D. Little, what stands out today is a clear shift from volume-driven residential supply to lifestyle-led, experience-based development.
“As a result, the lifestyle-focused segment is expected to outperform conventional residential real estate, growing at around 8 percent annually over the next five years. This growth is being driven by changing consumer expectations, population growth, rising incomes, and the scale of public investment shaping new urban environments,” Menassa said.
She added that demand in the Kingdom’s real estate is rising across four key segments: mixed-use districts near urban hubs such as King Salman Park; wellness-focused communities prioritizing walkability and services; coastal living along the Red Sea with branded residences; and heritage-driven districts like Diriyah and Al Balad that blend culture, hospitality, and long-term value.
“Overall, this marks a fundamental shift in the Kingdom. Real estate is no longer an end in itself and about delivering buildings; it is becoming a platform for place-making, economic diversification, and sustained value creation,” the ADL partner explained.
From another perspective, Houssem Jemili, senior partner at Bain and Co. Middle East said: “Saudi’s real estate market is forecast at roughly 7–8 percent CAGR to 2030; ‘lifestyle’ demand is being pulled most by amenity-led mixed-use communities plus higher-spec, greener and wellness-leaning homes.”
A report from PwC Middle East released in 2025 focused on the future of sustainable real estate in Saudi Arabia, and showed that the sector is shifting toward livability-focused, high-quality urban developments. Giga-projects are driving demand for mixed-use, wellness-focused, and socially connected communities that enhance quality of life.
Imad Shahrouri, cities sector lead partner, consulting, in Riyadh at PwC Middle East said: “By placing livability and human experience at the foundation of its urban agenda, Saudi Arabia is shaping a market where lifestyle-led developments will play an increasingly influential role in driving demand and investment.”
Core lifestyle elements developers are prioritizing
Saudi developers are shifting from the traditional “build and sell” model to creating integrated lifestyle communities focused on long-term value and everyday living.
Menassa from ADL highlighted that the shift centers on enhancing public spaces — with walkable areas, parks, and wellness facilities — to promote healthier, more social lifestyles, especially for a younger, health-focused population.
“Convenience is also playing a bigger role in shaping residential districts. Schools, childcare centers, clinics, co-working spaces and a wide range of food and beverage options are increasingly located within walking distance of homes, reducing commuting time and making everyday life more efficient and connected,” she said.
The partner added: “Equally important is the role of culture and social activity. Many developments now incorporate cultural venues, entertainment spaces and destination dining, ensuring that neighborhoods remain active throughout the day and week rather than becoming dormant outside working hours.”
Menassa went on to stress that real estate in Saudi Arabia is evolving into a strategic tool for quality of life, tourism, and talent attraction. Driven by Vision 2030, developments now integrate smart infrastructure and global lifestyle standards, while staying rooted in local culture to meet the needs of a young, urban population.
FASTFACT
Driven by Vision 2030, lifestyle-focused developments are set to outperform traditional residential projects, reshaping how people live, work, and connect across the Kingdom.
From Bain’s lens, Jemili said: “Developers are prioritizing livable neighborhoods. Walkability, parks and sport, culture and entertainment access, and everyday convenience, shaped by Vision 2030’s Quality of Life agenda and the 70 percent homeownership-by-2030 push.”
Shahrouri from PwC shed light on how developers in the Kingdom prioritizing livability, wellbeing, and inclusive, community-focused spaces are, aligning with Vision 2030’s push to enhance daily life and promote social integration while reflecting local identity.
“As a result, lifestyle-led elements such as walkable neighborhoods, activated public spaces and integrated community facilities are becoming central to new destinations, ensuring future developments foster more connected, resilient and experience-rich ways of living,” he said.
Regions, cities key hubs for experiential development
Several Saudi cities are emerging as prominent centers for lifestyle-focused, experiential development, each defined by its unique urban and economic character.
From ADL’s perspective, Riyadh is leading this shift as it positions itself as a global capital. The city is seeing strong demand for integrated, mixed-use districts that support live-work-play lifestyles.
“Developments such as KAFD, Diriyah, and areas surrounding King Salman Park reflect a growing preference for urban living that combines employment, culture, green space, and entertainment in close proximity,” Menassa said.
“Jeddah’s appeal is different, but equally compelling. Its strength lies in its coastal character, historic fabric, and more relaxed urban rhythm. Waterfront regeneration and heritage-led districts, particularly around Al Balad, are driving interest in developments that blend walkability, culture, and sea-facing lifestyles — attracting residents, investors, and tourists alike,” she added.
The partner continued to underline that destination developments along the Red Sea coast focus on sustainable, low-density communities blending hospitality, nature, and residential living, promoting wellness and eco-tourism.
Menassa noted that secondary cities like Abha and AlUla are emerging as hubs for outdoor living, culture, and heritage, supported by government policies and investments.
These lifestyle-driven districts appeal to residents for livability and job access, and to investors for scale and stability, offering resilience through everyday services and cultural experiences.
From Bain’s side, Jemili explained that Riyadh and Jeddah stand out as the main hubs because they combine jobs, population growth, liquidity and are where “integrated community” formats scale fastest.
“We’re seeing the same in Makkah and Madinah; the focus is shifting from delivering more units to delivering higher-quality development and standards,” he said.
From PwC’s perspective, Shahrouri noted that regions across Saudi Arabia are becoming hubs for lifestyle-driven development, with large-scale regeneration creating sustainable, well-designed environments that enhance urban living and attract global investment.
“Flagship projects are reshaping their surroundings by focusing on the character and feel of place, bringing together community elements, environmental responsibility, and integrated urban design.”
Their growing appeal comes from the balance they strike between modern infrastructure and a human-centered approach to planning, creating destinations where daily life feels more seamless and connected,” he said.
Next phase of Saudi real estate evolution
The next phase of Saudi Arabia’s real estate evolution is likely to be defined by integration, intelligence, and regeneration.
From ADL’s lens, Menassa explained that Riyadh is set to feature highly vertical, dense urban environments designed for land efficiency and sustainability, with fully integrated live-work-play ecosystems that reduce commuting, boost productivity, and enhance social cohesion.
“The real shift, however, is toward AI-enabled and data-driven communities, where energy, mobility, and services are actively managed rather than passively consumed. Real estate will increasingly be judged not by how much is sold, but by how well places perform — in terms of livability, productivity, and environmental outcomes,” she said.
The partner noted that Saudi Arabia is boosting private sector involvement, public-private partnerships, and institutional investments to develop public spaces and social infrastructure. The focus is shifting from just constructing cities to designing lifestyles, using real estate as a key driver for economic growth and social transformation.
Jemili from Bain said: “The next phase is more about operating districts like platforms, digital twins, and real-time data to optimize energy, maintenance, mobility, and resident experience, creating tighter live-work-play loops. Rather than ‘building more.’”
From PwC’s side, Saudi Arabia is building a strong foundation for future cities by focusing on resilient, resource-efficient developments and adaptable infrastructure, paving the way for smart, connected urban models like vertical districts and digital neighborhoods.
“These emerging environments are set to respond more naturally to the needs of their communities. As the quality and experience of urban life continue to rise, our cities are poised to become more intelligent, enriching and future ready, evolving with their residents and reflecting the ambition of a nation transforming at pace,” Shahrouri concluded.
