CITYSCAPE GLOBAL 2026
CONFERENCE AGENDA

A government briefing on where the programme stands today, what the next phase of delivery looks like, and how the Kingdom is preparing its housing system for the scale of demand still ahead.

Developers present how they are designing neighbourhoods around lifestyle, from the spaces people gather in to the rhythm of everyday convenience, and what it means to belong somewhere rather than simply live there.

Profit rate movements and a rent freeze in Riyadh have landed simultaneously and changed the financial case for buying, renting, or waiting. Experts analyse different homebuyer profiles to identify the best solutions for buyers at different life stages.

This session walks through the checkpoints of every purchase: verifying title and broker credentials, reading the sale contract, the true cost beyond the listed price, and the escrow and handover protections that govern off-plan sales, along with the safeguards a buyer can rely on throughout.

A first look at the communities currently rising across the Kingdom. Developers walk through what they are building, the buyers each community is designed for, and how these new neighbourhoods fit into the wider residential landscape.

For many buyers, the first home is the biggest decision they have made so far. Developers present the options designed with first-time buyers in mind, from formats and pricing to the support available along the way.

The Kingdom is building at a pace and scale unlike anywhere else, and the map of where Saudis live is being redrawn. An opening look at the neighbourhoods taking shape across the country, the thinking behind them, and what they signal about how and where the next generation will choose to live.

A home is only part of the decision. The community around it shapes daily life just as much. Developers present how they are designing neighbourhoods around lifestyle, from the spaces people gather in to the rhythm of everyday convenience, and what it means to belong somewhere rather than simply live there.

How home design in the Kingdom is evolving beyond square metres. Layouts that reflect how families actually live, outdoor spaces treated as extensions of the home, and the balance between natural light, ventilation, privacy and the way the home connects to the community around it.

A firsthand look at the Kingdom’s luxury residential portfolio, with the sales or development team walking buyers through available properties, so that attendees leave with a clear picture of what is on offer and how to move forward.

What buyers are actually paying for when a global luxury name is attached to a residence. The services and standards included, how management differs from non-branded product, and whether the premium holds.

What residents in already inhabited communities are actually using, what gets ignored, and what developers learned from the gap between what the brochure promised and how people live once they move in.

National homeownership has risen from under half the population to nearly two thirds in less than a decade. This session walks through how the system works in practice, which products fit different buyer profiles, and what every applicant should understand before committing.

This session provides non-Saudi investors with a clear and comprehensive journey for understanding their options for entering the Saudi real estate market, from selecting the appropriate regulatory route through to ownership and investment.

Expats living in the Kingdom are increasingly considering what property ownership could mean for them. This session brings a first-hand perspective, exploring the realities of renting, finding the right place to live, settling into the Kingdom and considering the move from tenant to homeowner.

This session outlines the options available to non-Saudis after acquiring property, including how they can manage the asset, benefit from it and undertake transactions within the applicable regulatory framework.

This keynote takes expats & foreign buyers through the legal side of a property purchase: sale and purchase contracts, due diligence on properties and developers, title registration and transfer, protections when buying off plan and the inheritance and succession process in the Kingdom.

Explore what it feels like to live in a place powered by world-class sport, where football finals, championship golf, electric racing, and global boxing nights happen as part of everyday life. It shows how a constant calendar of major events turns ordinary days into front-row access to unforgettable moments and high-energy experiences.

Dar wa Emaar and Al-Qadsiah FC discuss their partnership and take questions from the audience on strengthening fan engagement and building active, connected communities around both the club and residential developments.

Leaders from some of the world's most iconic venues share what separates a great stadium from a truly great city asset. Operations, district integration, and the governance decisions that defines a venue.

The most forward-thinking sports venues are no longer standalone assets - they are the anchors of entire urban districts, driving residential demand, retail activation and long-term city value. How are architects and venue operators aligning to make that happen?

How leading stadiums are reducing their carbon footprint without reducing the quality of the experience. Energy management, water systems, supply chains, and the decisions that make sustainability operational rather than cosmetic.

Skateboarding, BMX, breaking, climbing - sports that started on the streets and in skate parks are now Olympic disciplines with global audiences, commercial ecosystems and infrastructure demands of their own. How do you build events, academies and destinations around a new generation of sports - and what does the rise of extreme and urban sports mean for the cities and developers who want to host them?

As arenas evolve into connected entertainment destinations, operators are looking beyond the physical venue to create more seamless and engaging fan experiences. This session will explore how data, digital platforms, content and immersive technologies can enhance the visitor journey before, during and after an event, and how partnerships with technology and content platforms can deepen engagement and build fan loyalty.

Low-tech vs high-tech. Neighbourhood venue vs city-edge arena. Sporting cathedral vs entertainment complex. Two sides defend their corners and the audience votes.

The streets, squares, waterfronts and parks between buildings are where community life happens. How are developers, operators and event programmers activating public space to drive wellbeing, community cohesion and economic vitality – and what does best practice look like across the globe?

Sport has the power to strengthen communities and advance the SDGs – but positive impact is not automatic. Sports leaders explore what needs to change for sport to contribute to more inclusive and resilient cities – and for active lifestyles and wellbeing to be better embedded into community infrastructure.

What happens when the fan journey comes first? From arrival and movement to dwell time, spend and atmosphere, this session explores how leading venues are designed around the fan experience – and the details that turn a great event into a lasting connection.

Learn how players build businesses during and after their careers, the decisions that determine long-term financial success, and what the growing base of high-earning athletes in the Gulf means for clubs, developers and cities seeking to attract and retain that investment.

Learn how different live formats create audiences, build loyalty, and generate sustainable revenue – and what Saudi Arabia's growing appetite for live experience means for each of them.

The experience of a community extends beyond its buildings and infrastructure – shaped by sound, shade, greenery, light, texture and scent. How are developers and architects using biophilic design and sensory principles to create environments that support wellbeing, encourage social interaction and deepen people's connection to place?