Shaping Mega Projects 2026 Turns to Delivery as Expo 2030 Riyadh Accelerates and Jeddah Tower Vision Takes Shape

Shaping Mega Projects 2026 (SMP 2026) turned to delivery on Day Two at The Venue by ROSHN Group, with speakers from Expo 2030 Riyadh, Jeddah Economic Company and the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) setting out how the Kingdom’s landmark projects are moving from vision to execution.

Day Two, themed Executing Vision at Scale, examined how giga and mega projects are progressing from construction towards activation, operations and long-term performance, with sessions spanning event-driven delivery, contractor capability and industrial localisation.

Delivering Saudi Arabia’s Global Moment

One of the highlights of the day was when Eng. Murad AlSayed, Chief Delivery Officer of Expo 2030 Riyadh, joined MEED Editor in Chief Colin Foreman to provide an update on the accelerated delivery of the Expo site, confirming that the project is rapidly transitioning from planning and design into execution. He said the detailed masterplan has been completed, all key infrastructure execution packages have been awarded, and contractors are mobilised and working around the clock.

AlSayed confirmed Expo 2030 Riyadh is expected to welcome more than 40 million visits during its six-month run, with 197 countries and more than 20 international organisations participating. He also emphasised the project’s long-term legacy, with the site designed from the outset to evolve into a vibrant mixed-use district in Riyadh following the event.

At peak construction, the Expo site is expected to accommodate between 40,000 and 50,000 workers. AlSayed said the project is targeting completion of all major construction by the end of 2029, leaving the first nine months of 2030 for testing and commissioning, rehearsals, soft-opening activities and preparations by international exhibitors ahead of Expo’s scheduled opening on 1 October 2030.

A wider panel, also moderated by Foreman, examined how Expo 2030 Riyadh is accelerating investment in stadiums, transport, hospitality, public realm and utilities. Panellists were AlBawani Construction Company’s Olivier Crasson, President; Bechtel’s Melinda Wenn, Program Director for Expo 2030 Riyadh; Aedas’s John Gillen, Global Design Principal; and C&E Legal Solutions’ John Coghlan, Principal.

Jeddah’s Next Chapter

Fabien Toscano CEO of Jeddah Economic Company updated delegates on Jeddah Tower and the wider Jeddah Economic City, set to become the anchor of one of Saudi Arabia’s most significant urban developments. He confirmed that Phase One is now largely complete as a master development, with all core infrastructure in place and ready to go, including roads, traffic lights, pavements, electricity, water and district cooling.

Jeddah Tower itself, on track to become the world’s tallest building, is progressing at pace and construction reached 116 floors and 466 metres just last week, with more than 6,000 people working on the tower daily. Toscano noted that the technical challenge grows more complex the higher the tower rises, but that advances in construction technology since the last record-holding tower was built now allow concrete to be pumped as high as 1km.

From Delivery to Legacy

The day opened with a keynote from the National Housing Company’s Dr. Hassan Alassafi, General Manager Engineering & Construction, on delivering sustainable, high-quality urban development at scale.

The Keynote Leaders Panel, moderated by MEED’s Ed James, then examined how giga and mega projects are moving from construction towards activation, operations and long-term performance, with Chairman and CEO of IHCC Eng Sultan Sobhi Batterjee; Abdulelah Alsheikh, Country Director of Jacobs; Mohammed Abdel Jawad of Rua Alharam Almakki’s; James Clark of Kirkland & Ellis; and DLR Group’s Shawn Meyers.

Sports Boulevard Foundation’s Muhammed Alqahtani, Executive Vice President – Delivery, updated delegates on the delivery of one of Riyadh’s flagship mega-projects, from construction milestones to the next phases ahead of activation.

A Common Framework for Delivery

The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) used SMP 2026 to announce intentions around the RIBA Plan of Work – KSA Overlay, a common framework intended to improve collaboration, reduce risk and support successful project outcomes for developers, architects, engineers and contractors across the Kingdom.

RIBA’s Jordan D’Gama, Director of Strategic Market Development Middle East and Africa, was joined by Dale Sinclair, Head of Digital Innovation at WSP and co-author of the overlay, in a session moderated by Narrative Shapers’ Alex Malouf.

First Cross-Sector Partnership Signed

SMP 2026 hosted its first Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signing of the event, between Winclex and Drone Tech International (DTI). The MoU was signed by Winclex CEO Maheeb AlKasem and DTI CEO Dr Mohamed Zidan, in the presence of Winclex Executive Chairman Mohanad AlQasem.

The agreement establishes a framework for knowledge exchange, professional collaboration and the exploration of service integration opportunities, combining Winclex’s engineering and rope access expertise with DTI’s advanced drone, aerial imaging and digital modelling capabilities. Areas of cooperation include technical collaboration, capability development and the identification of mutually beneficial business opportunities across Saudi Arabia’s major projects market.

Looking forward to Day Three, the dialogue moves to Enabling Value: Infrastructure, Assets and Future Readiness, and the agenda will see MEED’s Ed James present an outlook of Saudi Arabia’s Transport Projects, and a panel discussion on Advancing Connectivity – Overcoming Challenges in Saudi Arabia’s Transport Infrastructure. An additional focus goes to Energy and MEED’s Power and Water Editor, Mark Dowdall, will present a projects outlook before hosting a panel discussion with speakers from EDF and Mott MacDonald on the same topic.

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