Cityscape Global Saudi to debut in September

Alexander Heuff, exhibition director of Cityscape Global, tells Gulf Business how the inaugural Saudi edition of the global real estate event will present attendees with in-depth insights into the ‘Future of Living’ while supporting the kingdom’s real estate ambitions.

Tell us more about Cityscape Global, which is set to take place from September 10-13 in Riyadh.

Cityscape Global provides a strategic platform for local and international real estate developers to share their projects with an audience of active and engaged investors and buyers.

Beyond bricks and mortar, the event is responsible for fostering partnerships and creating opportunities that drive investment and development in the region and across the globe through its exhibition, conference, and other content features that take place during the four-day event.

This year’s exhibition theme is the ‘Future of Living’. It will explore all the amazing technology, materials, designs and ideas taking us forward into the next generation of living. It’s incredibly exciting.

Which segments are you targeting with the Cityscape Global Saudi edition and what are the key highlights of the exhibition?

Cityscape Global has been created for both B2B and B2C audiences, with a focus on creating value for all stages of the property ecosystem. We’ve designed a comprehensive programme of conferences, summits and forums hosted over the four-day event to appeal to big name developers through to the first-time homebuyer, and everyone in between.

Our headlining conference: The Future of Living Summit, focuses on a different theme each day of the event: Smart Cities for Tomorrow, Digital Transformation, Accelerating the Kingdom and Developers Forum, providing attendees with a comprehensive overview of what’s happening in the region and beyond.

In addition, we have the Property Portfolio Forum, Design and Architecture, Real Estate Institutional Investor Forum, the PropTech stage and CityscapeWIRE running – with each agenda tailored to more specific audiences. Other highlights over the four days of Cityscape Global include exclusive project launches, VIP visits and giveaways.

How does an event such as Cityscape Global add value to Saudi Arabia property developers and other players in the real estate ecosystem?

The key benefit is that the event brings the entire real estate ecosystem together in one place: world leaders, governmental decision-makers, industry experts, regulators, investors, developers, architects, consultants and consumers.

The event provides a platform for exhibitors to showcase their ongoing and upcoming projects to a large, diverse, global audience, generating both interest and exposure.

Developers have the opportunity to benchmark their projects against regional and international competitors within the market, drive their brand visibility and initiate joint ventures. Collaborative efforts can lead to more significant and ambitious projects, shared resources, and risk mitigation.

With the comprehensive programme of conferences, summits, and forums overlayed across the four-day event, attendees can attend sessions featuring expert guest speakers and industry leaders from all facets of the industry and hear their take on up-to-the-minute industry insights and trends. The value that Cityscape Global provides anyone with an interest in property and real estate is truly immeasurable.

Saudi Arabia is currently home to some of the world’s biggest giga projects. How do you expect the exhibition to accelerate the growth of the country’s already booming real estate sector?

All eyes have been on Saudi Arabia since the 2016 announcement of its ambitious Vision 2030; the strategic framework created to reduce the nation’s dependence on oil, diversify its economy, and develop public service sectors including health, education, infrastructure, recreation, and tourism.

In recent years, the real estate market in Saudi Arabia has grown exponentially, attracting large-scale foreign and domestic investment. Home to some of the most ambitious giga-projects anywhere in the world, Saudi Arabia is the driving force for the next-generation property sector, and Cityscape Global is the stage.

As the kingdom continues to make strides in this space, investors must know where the most advantageous investment opportunities lie, and Cityscape Global is the catalyst.

With the upcoming debut in Saudi Arabia, tell us about the opportunities that you’re seeing in the market.

As an integral part of Vision 2030, the Saudi government has implemented various economic and regulatory reforms to attract foreign investment and improve the ease of doing business.

This has been a crucial step in further opening up Saudi Arabia to the world. The kingdom’s population is steadily growing and with it, the demand for housing and infrastructure.

Providing affordable housing solutions in Saudi Arabia is a priority. As urbanisation continues, the demand for residential, commercial, and mixed-use developments increases, creating opportunities for investors and developers alike. As the country moves to boost its tourism offering, several projects are underway to develop the tourism and hospitality sectors.

Alongside the opportunities for investors and developers, there are endless opportunities for suppliers and facilitators in the design, proptech, sustainability and facility management fields. When you consider the bigger picture, it’s easy to see why Saudi Arabia is the natural fit for the Cityscape Global 2023 launch.

Saudi Arabia’s real estate market size is projected to grow at a CAGR of 7.89 per cent to $94.19bn by 2028. How does Cityscape Global expect to contribute to the country’s housing programme under Vision 2030?

Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 housing programme endeavours to provide housing solutions that meet the needs and aspirations of Saudi families, with a key focus on sustainability and tech. Presently demand greatly outweighs supply, which is the first opportunity within itself.

Cityscape Global serves as a platform for real estate developers – local, regional, and international – to showcase their housing projects directly to an audience of investors, partners and buyers who can essentially help fund and expedite housing projects in the country.

Increased investment in the sector generates a snowball effect, funding further housing projects, and expediting construction and completion. The changes in government regulations to make foreign investment easier within the kingdom will be a huge drawcard for investors and a key contributor to bolstering the housing programme.

Giga projects such as NEOM are accelerating the growth of Saudi Arabia’s real estate industry, how do you envision the future of the industry going forward?

With the Saudi government’s ongoing commitment to developing giga-projects such as NEOM, Qiddiya and the Red Sea Project, these massive developments create significant demand for real estate across the residential, commercial and hospitality asset classes.

As I see it, the success and progress of the giga-projects will have a cascading effect on other sectors of the economy, creating job opportunities, attracting foreign investment, and boosting related industries.

The upward trend in the kingdom’s population growth will lead to increased urbanisation, driving the need for more housing, infrastructure, and commercial spaces.

The diversification of real estate offerings is what I believe to be key to meeting the differing needs of residents vs visitors, through a mix of affordable housing, luxury properties, smart cities, and sustainable developments. Saudi Arabia is truly pioneering the “Future of Living”.

For more details on the four-day Cityscape Global exhibition, visit www.cityscapeglobal.com

Read: Cityscape Global to debut in Saudi Arabia this year

Cityscape Global, Saudi Arabia, Real estate, Vision 2030, Property market