Saudi Arabia Megaprojects: How Giga-Developments Are Transforming the Kingdom in 2025-2026

Saudi Arabia is entering a construction boom unprecedented in modern history, driven by its top-tier real estate developers. Under Vision 2030, the Kingdom is reshaping its economy, its cities, and even its geography through a wave of giga-projects that redefine what national development can look like. The country currently has more than 5,200 active construction projects worth over USD 819 billion, accounting for roughly one-third of all GCC project value.

This scale is not just impressive — it is transformative. Entire cities are being planned from scratch. Floating industrial hubs, vertical smart cities, ultra-luxury tourism destinations, and economic clusters with their own regulatory structures are emerging across the Kingdom. And while each project has its own purpose, collectively they signal one thing: Saudi Arabia is building the physical and digital foundations of a post-oil economy.

Before diving into the individual megaprojects, it is essential to understand the overarching trend. Saudi Arabia is building more — and building faster — than any other country in the region. Urban expansion, tourism development, new logistics corridors, renewable energy zones and fully planned smart communities are appearing simultaneously, creating a construction landscape that feels closer to science fiction than traditional urban development.

Below is an in-depth look at the most ambitious ongoing and upcoming megaprojects shaping Saudi Arabia in 2025-2026

The LINE (NEOM): A 170-km Linear Smart City of the Future

Among all Saudi Arabia megaprojects, The LINE stands as the boldest idea — a city that stretches 170 kilometers across the desert, enclosed within a mirrored structure rising 500 meters into the sky. It is the flagship component of NEOM, the USD 500+ billion futuristic region being built in the country’s northwest.

The vision is radical: a city with no cars, no streets and zero carbon emissions, where everything residents need is accessible within a five-minute walk. High-speed rail beneath the structure aims to move people end-to-end in just 20 minutes.

Construction is well underway. Thousands of foundation piles have already been driven deep into the desert terrain. Top global firms like DMAA, Gensler and Mott MacDonald are leading the design and engineering of the early phases. In 2024, NEOM signed a USD 186 million contract to build a mega concrete plant dedicated exclusively to The LINE.

The project’s cost is expected to fall between USD 100–200 billion, and once complete, The LINE could house up to 9 million residents, making it one of the most densely visionary cities ever attempted.

New Murabba: Riyadh’s New Downtown and the Cube-Shaped Mukaab

If NEOM represents futuristic innovation, New Murabba represents scale. This USD 50 billion mixed-use district is reshaping northwest Riyadh with 19 square kilometers of residential, commercial and cultural space. At its heart stands The Mukaab, a monumental cube structure large enough to redefine the city’s skyline.

The development includes more than 100,000 residential units, 9,000 hotel rooms, and nearly 1 million square meters of retail. It will become one of the largest downtown districts in the world once completed.

In 2025, New Murabba signed a new partnership with Korea’s Heerim Architects, focusing on bringing global design standards to its parks, streetscapes and smart-city integrations. By 2030, the district is expected to add USD 47 billion to the Saudi economy and create more than 330,000 jobs.

Oxagon: The Floating Industrial City of NEOM

Another extraordinary project under the NEOM umbrella is Oxagon, the world’s largest floating structure — an industrial and logistics hub positioned along Red Sea trade routes that handle 13% of global shipping.

Oxagon spans 48 square kilometers, designed to become a fully sustainable industrial ecosystem powered entirely by renewables: solar, wind, green hydrogen and large-scale energy storage. It will also house one of the world’s largest data centers, backed by a USD 12.8 billion investment.

Major tech giants including Oracle, AWS, IBM and ServiceNow have already announced long-term investments into the Oxagon digital infrastructure. The city will introduce cutting-edge construction techniques, modular building processes, autonomous logistics, and urban air mobility systems.

Jeddah Central: A Coastal Reinvention of Saudi Arabia’s Second-Largest City

The Jeddah Central Development, valued at USD 20 billion, is reshaping 5.7 million square meters of the city’s central coastline. The project includes a new marina, a large public beach, high-end hospitality zones, cultural institutions, an iconic stadium for 45,000 spectators, and an opera house.

Construction is progressing rapidly. In 2024 alone, the project awarded more than SAR 12 billion in contracts to leading international and regional firms. By 2030, Jeddah Central is expected to contribute SAR 47 billion to the national economy and host more than 17,000 modern homes.

SEVEN: The New Entertainment Ecosystem of Saudi Arabia

Saudi Entertainment Ventures (SEVEN), owned by the Public Investment Fund, is developing 21 entertainment destinations across the Kingdom. These projects are crucial for Vision 2030 goals of improving quality of life and boosting domestic tourism.

One of the flagship attractions, SEVEN Abha, spans 64,000 square meters and includes e-karting, themed experiences, an indoor golf facility and a multi-screen cinema. SEVEN destinations are expected to attract millions of visitors annually and reshape the cultural and recreational landscape of Saudi cities.

Banan City: A Smart Residential Metropolis in Riyadh

Developed by Talaat Moustafa Group, Banan City is a 10-million-square-meter smart community located in northeastern Riyadh. With more than 20,000 smart homes planned, the project aims to host 120,000 residents and offer comprehensive lifestyle services — from education to healthcare to leisure.

The project is valued at USD 8.4 billion, with projected revenues exceeding USD 12 billion. Construction began in 2024 after reservations sold out at record speed.

Sindalah: NEOM’s First Luxury Tourism Destination

Sindalah is NEOM’s first operational destination — a luxury marine hub in the Red Sea, opened in late 2024. Designed for the global yachting community, Sindalah features:

• an 86-berth marina

• signature beach clubs

• ultra-high-end hospitality offerings

• boutique retail and gourmet dining

• a unique island golf and recreational concept

Sindalah is positioning itself as the premier Red Sea luxury gateway, located less than a day’s sail from key Mediterranean destinations.

Rise Tower: The Proposed 2-Kilometer Skyscraper

Perhaps the most ambitious structure concept on the horizon is Rise Tower (Burj Raiz). Planned for Riyadh, the skyscraper aims for an unprecedented 2,000 meters in height, over twice the size of the Burj Khalifa.

Still in pre-design and undergoing an international competition phase, the tower is financed by the Public Investment Fund. If built, it would become the tallest man-made structure ever constructed.

Comparison Table: Major Saudi Giga-Projects in 2025-2026

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Conclusion: Saudi Arabia Is Rebuilding Its Future From the Ground Up

The megaprojects unfolding across Saudi Arabia are not isolated developments — they are components of a larger national transformation. They signal a shift toward a diversified, innovation-driven economy where tourism, logistics, technology, real estate and renewable energy become core growth engines.

What is happening in the Kingdom today is comparable to the growth cycles that transformed places like Dubai, Singapore and Shenzhen — but on an even greater scale. Entire regions are being reimagined, industries restructured and cities built from scratch.

For investors, developers, contractors and global businesses, 2025 represents a defining moment. As these projects accelerate, opportunities across construction, technology, infrastructure and services will expand dramatically.

Saudi Arabia is not just building megaprojects — it is building a new era.