Arab News
Arab news, Tue, Oct 28, 2025 | Jumada al-Awwal 6, 1447
Jeddah offering ‘significant investor opportunities’ across retail, hospitality: JLL
Saudi Arabia:
Jeddah’s real estate pipeline is surging with
310,000 sq. meters of retail space rolled out this year, together with 1,000 new
branded residential units and over 30,000 more hotel keys by 2030, according to
JLL.
Speaking at its annual roundtable in Jeddah, the
global real estate firm said the city’s expanding pipeline — spanning
residential, hospitality, and mixed-use projects — underscores its growing role
in Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 agenda.
JLL said the development pipeline reflects
broader national progress, particularly in Riyadh, which accounts for over $1.2
trillion in total project value, with contract awards projected to reach about
$569 billion by the end of 2025, citing MEED Projects data.
Saud Al-Sulaimani, country lead and head of
Capital Markets at JLL Saudi Arabia, said: “Jeddah is pivotal to Saudi Arabia’s
Vision 2030, offering significant investor opportunities.”
He added that national priorities are pivoting,
aligning projects with objectives and fostering private sector collaboration,
alongside evolving PIF delivery structures.
“These strategic shifts and evolving market
fundamentals are crucial for long-term market stabilization and will drive a
focus on premium assets,” Al-Sulaimani said, adding that easing construction
costs is fundamentally reshaping the market.
The firm noted that branded residences — once tied
mainly to hospitality — are increasingly co-developed with lifestyle,
automotive, and fashion brands. The segment’s supply is expected to rise from
400 units to 1,400.
Faris Maqdah, director of Strategic
Consulting at JLL, said: “Jeddah’s branded residential sector is experiencing
notable development, with around 1,000 branded residential units planned for
delivery by 2030.”
He added: “Market interest in these developments
continues to evolve, with success dependent on developers delivering the right
product-price combination that balances quality and service standards with
affordability considerations.”
Retail expansion is also on the rise, with 310,000
sq. meters of new gross leasable area expected in 2025 — an increase of more
than 10 percent from current stock.
These developments are increasingly integrated
into mixed-use projects that cater to evolving consumer preferences.
“The retail landscape is also undergoing
significant transformation, driven by consumer demand for convenience and
integrated lifestyle offerings,” Maqdah added.
“These developments present compelling
opportunities for developers and investors to meet Jeddah’s evolving demographic
preferences and activate new micro-clusters that enhance the end-user
experience,” he added.
Hospitality growth remains strong, with a 6
percent compound annual growth rate from 2020 to 2025.
According to Sarah Gasim, senior vice president
and head of hotels at JLL Saudi Arabia, the upcoming FIFA World Cup 2034 — where
Saudi Arabia is the confirmed host — is expected to further accelerate
development.
“Strategic preparations are already underway, with
lessons drawn from the Qatar World Cup’s impact on regional infrastructure and
hospitality sectors,” she noted.
JLL also highlighted the city’s resilient
office market, where tight supply of Grade A space continues to support rental
growth and drive a “flight to quality.”