Exclusive: Savills outlines strategy and insights at Cityscape Saudi 2025

Saudi Arabia’s real-estate sector is entering a pivotal phase, shaped by giga-projects, regulatory evolution, and accelerated demand across residential, commercial, and industrial segments. During Cityscape Saudi 2025, Ramzi Darwish, Head of Saudi Arabia at Savills Middle East, discussed how these changes are influencing investor behaviour, long-term development strategies, and the overall maturity of the market.

His insights offer a clear view of how global and regional trends are intersecting with national priorities under Vision 2030, from the rise of data-driven decision-making to the growing appetite for high-quality assets and international diversification.

Exclusive Interview: Ramzi Darwish, Head of Saudi Arabia, Savills Middle East

Savills has had a strong presence at Cityscape Saudi over the years. What does participation in this year’s edition mean for the company, and how does it align with your broader strategy in the Kingdom?

Cityscape Saudi is an important platform for engaging with clients and industry partners, and our participation reflects the growing depth of our work in the Kingdom. It allows us to connect directly with stakeholders who are shaping Saudi Arabia’s evolving real estate landscape and to share evidence-based insights that support decision-making.

For Savills, being present at Cityscape aligns with our broader strategy of strengthening our on-ground capabilities, responding to demand across advisory and transactional services, and ensuring that both local and international clients have access to clear, well-informed advice as the market continues to mature. Earlier this year, we opened a new, larger office in KAFD in Riyadh, which further enhances our ability to support clients closely and maintain a long-term presence in the Kingdom.

Saudi Arabia is undergoing a historic transformation with giga-projects and rapid urban development. How is Savills positioning itself to support these large-scale initiatives from an advisory and investment perspective?

We’re supporting clients by combining local market knowledge with our global specialist expertise across planning, valuation, development consultancy, and investment advisory. Much of the work happening today requires long-term thinking and a clear understanding of demand fundamentals, and our role is to help guide that process from early feasibility through to delivery.

The ongoing diversification under Vision 2030, supported by steady non-oil sector growth and inbound investment, is creating new opportunities across multiple asset classes. As regulatory frameworks evolve, including long-term pathways for foreign ownership in designated areas from 2026, our focus is on helping clients navigate these changes and make informed decisions backed by data.

Can you highlight any key trends Savills is observing in the Saudi real estate market across residential, commercial, and industrial segments, that global investors should be paying attention to?

Residential Demand remains resilient in Riyadh and other key cities, particularly for well-planned communities and mid-to-upper-tier housing. Population growth, evolving household preferences, and enhanced affordability measures are shaping this segment. With the upcoming foreign ownership law, we are also seeing more developers designing schemes that cater to the needs of the expatriate community.

Commercial Riyadh’s office market continues to demonstrate strong performance. Grade A occupancy remains elevated amid tight supply, supported by steady demand from both domestic and multinational companies. We are also seeing sustained enquiry levels from firms seeking larger, modern floorplates, reflecting business expansion and ongoing relocations into the Kingdom.

Media engagement is a major focus during Cityscape Saudi. What are the main messages Savills hopes to communicate to regional and international audiences during this event?

Our aim is to share clear, grounded analysis of how the market is evolving and what that means for occupiers, investors, and developers. Three areas remain central to our messaging:

• Saudi Arabia is progressing through a period of measured, long-term development, supported by steady economic indicators and continued diversification.
• Data-led decision-making is essential. With new regulations, changing demand patterns, and significant new supply in the pipeline, independent insight helps stakeholders plan effectively.
• Savills remains focused on supporting clients through market shifts, using our on-ground presence and global expertise to provide balanced, practical advice.

In addition, Saudi investors continue to show interest in diversifying into established global markets. As highlighted in our broader residential advisory work, destinations such as London, Europe and the UAE remain appealing for wealth preservation, education access and long-term portfolio stability. Through our international platform, we support clients in understanding opportunities abroad and how these align with their long-term investment strategies. The objective is to give stakeholders a realistic view of current conditions and future expectations.

Savills recently released several market reports and insights on the Kingdom. Which findings do you believe are most relevant for stakeholders attending Cityscape, and why? From our recent Riyadh Office Market in Minutes report, a few points stand out:

• Business confidence has remained positive, supported by consistent PMI readings above the neutral threshold.
• Office demand continues to be driven by established sectors such as consulting, BFSI, and technology, with a noticeable volume of enquiries from international firms.
• Grade A occupancy levels remain high, indicating that modern supply is still relatively limited in core areas.
• Foreign investment flows have continued to build momentum, reflecting growing interest in the Kingdom’s long-term prospects.
• Average Grade A office rents increased by 1.75% QoQ and 11% YoY, with Zone A recording the strongest annual uplift at 16%, a clear indicator of sustained pressure on prime space and the preference for high-quality, well-located assets.

These findings offer a useful snapshot for Cityscape attendees evaluating leasing, investment, or development strategies in the year ahead.

How does Savills plan to deepen its presence in Saudi Arabia? Are there any upcoming partnerships, initiatives, or expansions the market should anticipate?

We are continuing to grow our teams and capabilities in Riyadh and are exploring expansion into other key cities such as Jeddah, with a focus on strengthening our advisory services across consulting, valuation, strategic development, and commercial agency. This will enable us to provide more tailored support as the market becomes increasingly sophisticated. We are also preparing to announce new service lines, with further details to be shared closer to launch. Property Management will play a fundamental role in our growth plans as we continue delivering best-in-class services and expertise across the Kingdom.

We are engaging more closely with both government entities and private developers on long-term initiatives aligned with Vision 2030. As new regulations—including the future framework for foreign ownership—come into effect, our advisory role will expand to support both domestic clients and the growing number of international entrants.

Our focus remains on strengthening our footprint, deepening sector expertise, and contributing to the Kingdom’s broader development agenda through well-informed, independent advisory work.