Saudi construction industry eyes stronger project delivery

Big 5 Construct Saudi opened at the Riyadh Front Exhibition & Conference Center on Monday, spotlighting technology, governance and supply-chain resilience as Saudi Arabia accelerates major building and infrastructure projects. The event, inaugurated by Eng Fawaz bin Badr Al Shora, Deputy Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources for Industrial Services and Compliance, runs through September 2 and brings together sector stakeholders across four specialised tracks: HVACR Saudi Arabia, FM & Clean Saudi Arabia, Heavy Saudi Arabia and Totally Concrete Saudi Arabia.

“Project controls have really improved over the past five years and teams are under more scrutiny and need to be more resilient. One area we can create even greater resilience in is bringing that planning as far forward as we can. Change is happening; it’s now about how we create project environments to adapt to that change,” said Christopher Seymour, Managing Director, Middle East and Africa, Mace Arabia.

The two-day exhibition and conference features in-depth technical discussions, product showcases and networking opportunities for project owners, contractors, consultants, manufacturers and suppliers. The opening ceremony also included Matt Denton, President of dmg events, and a guided tour for Eng Fawaz bin Badr Al Shora, underscoring public- and private-sector engagement as projects linked to national development priorities advance.

Leadership panels on Day 1 emphasised governance, collaboration and transparency as prerequisites for delivering complex programmes. Moderated by Darko Macura FCIOB, CEO of Al Kholi Group, a leadership session assembled Christopher Seymour, Khalid Dugaither, Director, Corporate Procurement & Contracts, ROSHN; and Yousuf Bin Zayed, General Manager, Al-Futtaim Facilities Management. Bin Zayed highlighted supply-chain partnership: “We have cases where we have stood beside developers in the Kingdom, showing belief in their projects and in their plans to ensure a positive outcome.”

A second panel — ‘Enhancing planning, coordination and supervision standards on construction sites’ — was moderated by Rachael Jones, Head of Specialist Services, JLL, and included Kevin Beaver FCIOB, Delivery Director - Expo Riyadh 2030, Bechtel; Joel Thompson MCIOB, Senior Manager - Projects, Qiddiya Investment Company (QIC); Mohamed Yamani, FMC Director, Dussman Ajlan & Bros.; and Omran Mahmood Alam, Senior Project Manager, House of Consulting Office. Beaver underlined the role of leadership in delivery: “Leaders need to be visible and lead by example. As a leader, you have to believe in what you are doing, and teams will follow you. Set the standards, but you also have to engage with your teams on site and remain committed.”

Panelists also argued that technology adoption and early planning—from tendering through procurement, logistics and health and safety—are essential to improve day-to-day execution and to upskill the workforce rather than displace it. “Your execution plan should come during the tendering. Design, procurement, logistics, health and safety. Your project programme is an output of that strategy. You also need proactive supervision,” Joel Thompson said.

Exhibitors and market signals

• Al-Futtaim Contracting announced the launch of Facilities Management and Fire & Life Safety operations in Saudi Arabia, expanding integrated asset-lifecycle services.
• Hussein & AlHassan G Shaker Bros. is showcasing HVAC and air-conditioning solutions; Haier & Aljabr Saudi Electronics Trading focuses on building and HVAC technologies.
• Al Yamamah Steel, Baz Steel and Zamil Steel Holding are presenting steel and structural solutions; Grundfos Saudi Arabia and Wilo Saudi Arabia are displaying pumping and water-management systems.
• MedGulf is offering insurance and reinsurance services tailored to construction projects.

Commenting on engagement levels at the show, Muhammed Kazi, Senior Vice President, dmg events, said: “The level of engagement across the exhibition floor reflects both the scale of opportunity in the Kingdom and the increasingly specific needs of its construction market. We have seen project owners, contractors, consultants, manufacturers and suppliers engaging in focused conversations around procurement, project delivery, technical requirements and supply chains.”

Outlook: the forum reinforced a common industry trajectory — earlier and more integrated planning, stronger governance and targeted technology adoption — aimed at reducing delivery risk on large-scale projects. With exhibitors already aligning products and services to Saudi requirements and senior practitioners pushing for visible, committed leadership on site, organisers and participants expect these conversations to catalyse new partnerships and procurement activity over the coming months as the Kingdom advances its construction pipeline.