Saudi Arabia praised for global tourism leadership at UN event

Speaking at the 26th session of the UN Tourism General Assembly in Riyadh, GCC Secretary-General Jasem Al-Budaiwi underscored the region’s collective efforts to upgrade infrastructure and enhance service quality in line with the sector’s rapid transformation. Supplied
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Updated 09 November 2025
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Saudi Arabia praised for global tourism leadership at UN event

RIYADH: Tourism continues to play a crucial role in driving economic diversification across the Gulf region, with the sector viewed as a key contributor to sustainable growth, according to a senior official. 

Speaking at the 26th session of the UN Tourism General Assembly in Riyadh, GCC Secretary-General Jasem Al-Budaiwi underscored the region’s collective efforts to upgrade infrastructure and enhance service quality in line with the sector’s rapid transformation. 

He also underscored the GCC’s commitment to aligning with international tourism shifts to consolidate its position as a leading destination. 

Praising Saudi Arabia’s leadership in the global tourism landscape, Al-Budaiwi said the Kingdom’s efforts reflect “qualitative initiatives in enhancing joint international action and establishing a more prosperous and sustainable tourism ecosystem.” 

He emphasized the strategic importance of tourism for the region, noting that “the GCC countries pay great attention to tourism and its related sectors, viewing it as a pivotal tributary for economic growth and the diversification of income sources.”  
He added: “The GCC countries’ continuous keenness to develop advanced infrastructure and raise the quality of services in the tourism sector, in line with the rapid transformations in this vital sector, which contributes to consolidating their position as a leading global destination.”    

The 26th session of the UN Tourism General Assembly, held on Nov. 9, convened in Riyadh under the theme “AI-Powered Tourism: Redefining the Future.” 

The event was officially opened by Saudi Minister of Tourism Ahmed Al-Khateeb and included wide-ranging discussions on innovation, technology, and sustainability in the tourism sector. 

More than 160 delegates from around the world convened in Riyadh for the assembly — the first time the event has been hosted by a GCC country. 

The gathering underscores the region’s growing influence in global tourism, with participants engaging in four plenary sessions, multiple committee meetings, and two sessions of the Executive Council. 

Ahead of the assembly, UN Tourism Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili emphasized the transformative power of tourism, while Al-Khateeb described the event as a defining moment for charting the industry’s future. 

The assembly marked another step in the Kingdom’s broader vision to align regional collaboration with global trends in tourism development.  


New Murabba seeks contractors for Mukaab Towers fit-outs: MEED

Updated 28 January 2026
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New Murabba seeks contractors for Mukaab Towers fit-outs: MEED

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s New Murabba Development Co., a wholly owned subsidiary of the Public Investment Fund, has issued a request for information to gauge the market for modular and offsite fit-out solutions for its flagship Mukaab development, MEED reported on Wednesday.

The RFI was released on Jan. 26, with submissions due by Feb. 11. NMDC has also scheduled a market engagement meeting during the first week of February to discuss potential solutions with prospective contractors.

Sources close to the project told MEED that NMDC is “seeking experienced suppliers and contractors to advise on the feasibility, constraints, and execution strategy for using non-load-bearing modular systems for the four corner towers framing the Mukaab structure.” The feedback gathered from these discussions will be incorporated into later design and procurement decisions.

The four towers — two residential (North and South) and two mixed-use (East and West) — are integral to the Mukaab’s architectural layout. Each tower is expected to rise approximately 375 meters and span over 80 stories. Key modular elements under consideration include bathroom pods, kitchen pods, dressing room modules, panelized steel partition systems, and other offsite-manufactured fit-out solutions.

Early works on the Mukaab were completed last year, with NMDC preparing to award the estimated $1 billion contract for the main raft works. This was highlighted in a presentation by NMDC’s chief project delivery officer on Sept. 9, 2025, during the Future Projects Forum in Riyadh.

Earlier this month, US-based Parsons Corp. was awarded a contract by NMDC to provide design and construction technical support. Parsons will act as the lead design consultant for infrastructure, delivering services covering public buildings, infrastructure, landscaping, and the public realm at New Murabba. The firm will also support the development of the project’s downtown experience, which spans 14 million sq. meters of residential, workplace, and entertainment space.

The Parsons contract follows NMDC’s October 2025 agreements with three other US-based engineering firms for design work across the development. New York-headquartered Kohn Pedersen Fox was appointed to lead early design for the first residential community, while Aecom and Jacobs were selected as lead design consultants for the Mukaab district.

In August 2025, NMDC signed a memorandum of understanding with Falcons Creative Group, another US-based firm, to develop the creative vision and immersive experiences for the Mukaab project. Meanwhile, Beijing-based China Harbour Engineering Co. completed the excavation works for the Mukaab, and UAE-headquartered HSSG Foundation Contracting executed the foundation works.