The real estate sector in Saudi Arabia is undergoing transformative growth, driven by a bold national vision and far-reaching economic reforms. Capital is being deployed, project timelines are accelerating, and entirely new urban identities are emerging. Yet amidst this rapid expansion, a critical question arises: Are we matching our focus on quantity with equal emphasis on quality, particularly human-centered design?
The Quality Gap
Recent reports by JLL and The Saudi Report 2025 reveal that private projects in the Kingdom are not constrained by funding or ambition, but by:
- Inconsistent execution standards.
- Weak alignment with end-user needs.
- Insufficient integration of community dynamics.
- A tendency toward short-term, output-focused planning.
These findings underscore the need to move beyond traditional development models. What’s needed is a shift toward holistic, purpose-driven strategies that balance commercial viability with long-term community value.
Roaya’s Experience: Redesigning for Human Impact
In one of its recent developments, Roaya made a decisive move: construction was temporarily paused to reassess the design approach. The objective was to enhance livability and strengthen community integration. The redesign introduced:
- More usable public spaces.
- Improved connectivity and pedestrian flow.
- Better access and neighborhood cohesion.
While this shift increased development costs by 5%, it resulted in a 32% actual uplift in revenue, a direct outcome of stronger alignment with community expectations.
In a Shifting Market, Where Does Demand Come From?
As challenges intensify in the retail sector securing tenants and end- users for leasable space has become increasingly complex.
To navigate this, Roaya adopts a proactive and risk-aware strategy that includes:
- Identifying key partners and signing Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with leading players in sectors such as healthcare, tourism, entertainment, and retail, ensuring early visibility of demand and strategic alignment.
- Engaging operators and end-users during the early design stages to tailor the development to real operational needs and user experiences.
- Designing projects around operational requirements to support long-term occupancy and ensure financial sustainability.
This approach ensures alignment between vision, design, and demand, safeguarding cash flows while elevating the end-user experience.
A New Definition of Success
In today’s real estate landscape, success is no longer just about scale. It is about how effectively a project integrates into the lives of people, businesses, and the communities it serves. By embedding quality, adaptability, and a sense of place from the earliest stages and by building with operators and residents in mind, developers can go beyond buildings to create meaningful urban contributions.
