Saudi Arabia’s real estate market is expected to continue growing this year, buoyed by gigaprojects and major developments tied to Saudi Vision 2030, Deloitte said in its KSA Real Estate Predictions report (pdf). Major events that are expected to support growth in the real estate market — as well as “the creation of new urban hubs and tourism destinations” — include the 2034 FIFA World Cup and Expo 2030, Deloitte said, while the continued development of NEOM and Qiddiya, among others, will also drive real estate growth.

THE RESIDENTIAL MARKET-

In 2024, residential transactions in Riyadh, Jeddah, and Dammam rose 50% y-o-y in terms of value to SAR 118 bn, according to the report. Apartment sales rates in Riyadh rose 5% y-o-y, while villa prices rose 12% y-o-y in 2024. In Jeddah and Dammam, apartment sales grew around 1% y-o-y.

Pricing vs. volume in Riyadh: The majority (69%) of apartments sold in Riyadh in the last 12 months were priced at SAR 250k-1 mn, with the bulk of the activity seen in the low- and middle-income segments, according to Deloitte. Rent prices for houses in Riyadh also rose 3% y-o-y on average in 2024, while apartment rents rose 4% y-o-y. “Transaction volume in the south of Riyadh has grown due to the availability of stock, while the transaction value remains highest in the north of Riyadh, reflecting sustained high demand in that area.”

Over in Jeddah, the price per sqm for villas and apartments being sold rose 1% y-o-y, while apartment rents were up 3% y-o-y and house rents rose 2% y-o-y. Dammam saw more or less the same trends, although the price per sqm for apartments was up 3% y-o-y in 2024.

REMEMBER- Apartment prices in Riyadh rose 10.6% y-o-y in 2024, while villa prices increased 6.3%, according to a recent report. Home sales grew 44.2% y-o-y to 63k transactions, with the total value rising over 30% to SAR 75.7 bn. Despite this growth, many mid-market buyers are struggling to afford homes due to the rapid price increases seen in recent years. Appetite for home ownership in Saudi Arabia among nationals fell 11 percentage points to 29% this year compared to 2023, with the highest-earning segment showing the strongest appetite for buying a home this year.

THE OFFICE MARKET-

Office space supply grew 5-6% y-o-y in each of Riyadh, Jeddah, and Dammam in 2024, as new projects and developments came online to meet market demand. The market is seeing growing demand, with “Grade A office-focused sectors, such as financial and business services,” growing 5.3% y-o-y in 2024.

Pricing is on the up: In Riyadh, the average rent price per sqm for Grade A offices rose 17% y-o-y in 4Q 2024 to SAR 2.1k per sqm. Jeddah’s average rent price hit SAR 1.5k per sqm, up 15% y-o-y, while in Dammam the average rent price rose 4% y-o-y to SAR 1k per sqm.

More demand as economy continues to grow: Saudi Arabia’s GDP grew to SAR 3 tn in 2024 and is expected to hit SAR 3.7 tn by 2030. This growth — particularly in Riyadh — “is exerting pressure on older stock in secondary areas. To meet market demands, many upcoming offices are being incorporated into larger master plans that integrate residential, retail, and hospitality elements,” the report says.

RETAIL + HOSPITALITY-

Tourism growth pushes Riyadh hotel rates up — while Jeddah slips: Riyadh’s hospitality sector saw occupancy rates hold steady at 64% in 2024, with the average daily rate (ADR) at hotels climbing to SAR 895. The rising ADR “is largely attributed to the introduction of 5-star hotels across Riyadh, significant developments such as Diriyah Gate, and the demand generated by Riyadh Seasons. Meanwhile, Jeddah’s ADR fell 12.2% y-o-y to SAR 680, with occupancy rates falling one percentage point to 62%.

Major themes + trends in the sector: The growth of the Kingdom’s hospitality sector is pushing a shift towards co-located hotels and branded residences, which “allow operators to diversify revenue streams while meeting the demand for integrated lifestyle experiences,” according to the report. Deloitte also sees “a growing strategy [involving] converting and rebranding aged hospitality, aligning them with modern market demands.”

Retail growth: Total retail sales volumes are expected to hit a compound annual growth rate of 4.4% through 2027, with pop-up stores gaining popularity in major malls. Supply volumes are steadily growing in the country’s retail space, while demand remains “relatively stable,” which together are keeping price increases at bay, Deloitte said.

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