October Recap: Construction, Tourism Drive Momentum in Saudi Arabia
October saw significant activity across Saudi Arabia’s high-priority sectors, including construction, tourism, retail, and industrial development.
October wrapped up with major activity across infrastructure, industrial development, and tourism—sectors that collectively form the bedrock of the country’s diversification push. Here’s a roundup of the most important and intriguing developments across Saudi Arabia’s high-priority sectors.
Construction
- Qassim Region Accelerates With $221 M Road Network Expansion
- PIF & FII Partner to Fast-Track Sustainable Tourism in Soudah
- UK’s Mobico Unit Wins Transport Contract for Qiddiya
Big Picture:
Infrastructure-linked real estate projects are viewed as durable, long-term opportunities by international investors, whether in giga-projects, which remain attractive locations for global investment, or in emerging regions such as Asir and Qassim.
Business Expansions
- ALSA Secures Eight-Year Contract to Operate 156 Buses
- HP Launches First Global Tech Manufacturing Facility and AI R&D Center in Saudi
- Ford Motors Gearing Up to Launch EV in Saudi Market
- Chinese Newspaper People’s Daily Opens Regional Office in Riyadh
- Universal Aviation Expands to Saudi with Flagship Locations in Riyadh, Jeddah, and Dammam
Big Picture:
The Kingdom is advancing toward achieving its Vision 2030 goals, and global firms are taking notice of the importance of moving early and setting up a business in Saudi Arabia. Key business moves in October spanned transport, technology, retail, media, and aviation, as companies increasingly identify the Kingdom as a game-changer in global expansion strategies.
Retail
- Q-Commerce in Saudi Arabia Set to Reach $1.34 Billion by 2030
- Retail Market to Reach $398 Million by 2030
Big Picture
The rate of online deliveries is expected to surpass that of the retail industry as a whole, pointing to growing demand for ultra-fast service, particularly for food items. Global companies are heavily investing in dark stores, broadening product categories, and enhancing delivery capabilities to keep up with industry trends.
Industrial & Mining
- Riyadh Leads Kingdom’s Industrial Rental Growth in Early 2025
- Saudi to Establish National Scrap Metal Company
- Saudi Signs 5 Agreements With Vietnamese Firms to Boost Cooperation in Industrial Sector
Big Picture
The National Industrial Development and Logistics Program (NIDLP) has identified industry, mining, energy, and logistics as key sectors driving qualitative transformation in the economy. The next wave of industrial growth will be defined by strategic public-private partnerships, sustainability, and technology-enabled facilities, with Riyadh emerging as the central industrial hub.
Tourism
- Tourism Ranks as the 4th Largest Employer in Madinah
- Madinah Tops Saudi Cities in Hospitality Occupancy Rate, Reaching 74.7% in H1 2025
Big Picture
Madinah’s continued transformation is characterized by ongoing advancements in smart city initiatives and public transport upgrades, attracting global investments across sectors including tourism, entertainment, mining, manufacturing, agriculture, and real estate.
