The Middle East

The Eastern Province is Saudi Arabia’s largest province by size and is responsible for much of the Kingdom’s oil production, as well as housing the world’s largest oil field. It is the most important centre for heavy industry in the country and home to the world’s biggest petrochemicals cluster at Jubail, which is currently in the midst of a...

Home to around 15% of the country’s population and a sizable industrial segment, the Eastern Province represents one of the most important real estate markets in the Kingdom. Major cities in the region are currently experiencing a housing deficit, although by contrast there is an over-supply of office space. This deficit has helped to attract...

Keen to share the cost, workload, and rewards of developing the city and its environs with the private sector, the Jeddah Development and Urban Regeneration Company (JDURC) is seeking to engage private stakeholders through public-private partnerships (PPPs).

The results of a concerted effort to address decades of rapid unplanned growth in Saudi Arabia’s second-largest city are beginning to become clear as transportation plans advance and major development projects get under way. These efforts look set to facilitate sustainable growth and diversification in the coming years and will ultimately help...

With Jeddah’s population expected to grow to 5m by 2029, from its current size of 3.6m, a considerable number of new cars and people are taking to the streets each year, putting increasing pressure on infrastructure. While plans are afoot to reduce reliance on cars through an integrated transport system, this is not due to be fully operational...

With more than 61,000 existing hotel rooms in the Holy City, Makkah is the largest hotel market in Saudi Arabia by far. In comparison the capital, Riyadh, offers 10,000 rooms and Medina 7800 rooms, according to industry website Top Hotel Projects. Despite the large number of rooms, occupancy rates in Makkah remain high. The average from...