Plan smarter to ‘unlock future prosperity,’ Saudi housing minister says

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Badr Mohammed Burshaid, founder and chairman of the Global Project Management Forum, gives a speech at the 2025 conference. (AN Photo)
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Attendees gather at the 2025 Global Project Management Forum in Riyadh on May 18, 2025. (AN Photo)
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General view of the audience at the Global Project Management Forum 2025 in Riyadh on May 18, 2025. (AN Photo)
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Updated 18 May 2025
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Plan smarter to ‘unlock future prosperity,’ Saudi housing minister says

  • Project management leaders gather in Riyadh to discuss best practices in alignment with Vision 2030
  • More than 133,000 entities in the Kingdom working on range of construction projects

RIYADH: Project management is “one of the most important drivers of national trust,” Saudi Minister of Municipalities and Housing Majid bin Abdullah Al-Hogail told a conference in Riyadh on Sunday.

Saudi Vision 2030 was created to paint a prosperous future that will reinvent the economic, social, and developmental reality of the Kingdom, Al-Hogail added.

Project management plays a pivotal role at the governmental level by improving the execution and quality control of numerous projects, in full alignment with national goals and targets, he said.

The fourth Global Project Management Forum, with Arab News as a media partner, began its first day of discussions with more than 120 speakers.

The event brings together experts for workshops and dialogue on the best practices in the industry, aligning with Saudi Arabia’s rapid development under Vision 2030.

“Today, we are witnessing accelerating changes and rising challenges … at the heart of (the solutions) is project management to reshape our spaces, meet the needs of the people, and enhance overall sustainability,” said Al-Hogail.

“At the housing and municipality sector, we design projects to meet the dreams of households.”

According to the minister, more than 133,000 entities in the Kingdom are working on a wide range of construction projects.

“This kind of momentum cannot be achieved without project management, which starts with the people and their focus on the conscious planning, flexibility in execution, and ability to adapt to new changes.”

Project management has become smarter, he said, with a strong ability to predict and plan sustainably, and with the potential to help build a strong nation with a diversified economy.

The two-day forum will feature 50 strategic and technical sessions, and include more than 40 exhibitors. A total of 60 agreements will be signed to develop partnerships between entities.


Lucia festival lights up Swedish Embassy in Riyadh

Updated 11 December 2025
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Lucia festival lights up Swedish Embassy in Riyadh

RIYADH: A celebration of light and traditional choir singing illuminated the Swedish Embassy in Riyadh’s Diplomatic Quarter on Wednesday evening for the country’s Lucia festival.

Based on ancient pre-Christian traditions intertwined with the story of Saint Lucy, who is depicted wearing a crown of candles, the festival is cherished for bringing some respite from the dark Scandinavian winter.

The Riyadh embassy hosted a number of dignitaries and members of the Swedish community in Saudi Arabia, with catering provided by Ikea.

Swedish Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Petra Menander spoke to Arab News about the significance of the festival.

“It's a very, very old tradition that leads back to our peasant times when we needed to fight the darkness with light,” she said.

“And so we actually adopted an old tradition from Italy where Lucia comes with light in her hair and that made us all feel very, very comfortable.

“And it’s something that we actually celebrate just as much as the other holidays, like Christmas or so on. It’s inescapable, at all schools, everywhere.”

Holding the festival in Riyadh was particularly special as it not only brought a glimpse of Swedish culture to Saudi Arabia, but also helped Swedish nationals living in the Kingdom reconnect with their homeland.

“I think it’s a very nice way to bring Swedish culture overseas, but it’s also a nice way of getting the Swedish community together,” said Menander.

“We just have many people who come from mixed backgrounds and they’re very happy that they can introduce their children to this tradition even if they’re living very far away from Sweden. So, it’s a very warm feeling for me.”