Cityscape Global 2026 spotlights Saudi shift to mixed-use destinations

Cityscape Global 2026 in Riyadh will center on integrated mixed-use development as Saudi Arabia pushes to serve 150 million annual visitors by 2030 and attract more global real estate capital. The November event will focus on destination-led projects tying together hospitality, retail, leisure and branded residences.

Why it matters: - Integrated mixed-use development is becoming a core theme in global real estate as investors look for year-round demand and multiple revenue streams. - Saudi Arabia’s push to reach 150 million annual visitors by 2030 is accelerating demand for developments that combine hospitality, retail, leisure and residential uses. - The trend matters for the Kingdom’s broader visitor economy ahead of Expo 2030 Riyadh and the FIFA World Cup 2034. - Cityscape Global 2026 is positioning itself as a key meeting point for the developers, investors and operators shaping that shift.

What happened: - Cityscape Global 2026 said its Future of Living Summit will put destination-led development at the center of the program. - The event will take place Nov. 16-19 at the Riyadh Exhibition & Convention Centre in Malham, Saudi Arabia. - The program will focus on the move from standalone projects toward integrated destinations anchored by hospitality, retail, lifestyle and branded residences. - The event said Saudi Arabia has already surpassed its original target of 100 million annual visitors. - The event also pointed to an estimated USD 6.3 billion in potential private global real estate investment tied to the Kingdom’s growth.

The details: - Mixed-use districts combining hospitality, retail, entertainment, culture and branded residences are drawing investor interest because they can create year-round communities. - Diriyah has exhibited at Cityscape Global since the event launched in Riyadh in 2023 and is one of the landmark developments advancing the Kingdom’s integrated mixed-use agenda. - The Future of Living Summit will build on the Capitals by Cityscape Global program, which convened investors representing USD 6.1 trillion in real estate and infrastructure assets under management in 2025. - The summit will examine partnerships, investment models and commercial opportunities tied to Saudi Arabia’s visitor economy. - Speakers named for the agenda include Harris Bokhari OBE, Chair of VisitBritain; Elie Milky, Chief Development Officer – MENA, Cyprus & Greece at Radisson Hotel Group; Daniel Von Barloewen, SVP & Head of Global Mixed-Use Development at Accor; and Dominique Alba, CEO of Ateliers Jean Nouvel. - Jerry Inzerillo, group chief executive officer of Diriyah Company, said destination developments are creating new opportunities across hospitality, culture and mixed-use real estate. - Inzerillo said long-term value will depend on collaboration between developers, investors, operators and the public sector. - Rachel Sturgess, executive vice president at Tahaluf, said the global industry is moving beyond single-asset development toward integrated destinations. - Sturgess said Saudi Arabia is accelerating that shift at scale, with growing international interest in branded residences, hotels and mixed-use projects.

Between the lines: - The event is using Saudi Arabia’s tourism buildout as proof that destination-led real estate is becoming a more investable category. - By linking real estate with hospitality and tourism, Cityscape Global is framing mixed-use development as both an urban planning model and an investment strategy. - The emphasis on branded residences and visitor economy partnerships suggests developers are chasing projects designed to hold value beyond a single asset class.

What's next: - Cityscape Global 2026 will bring together industry leaders in Riyadh from Nov. 16-19 to discuss the next phase of integrated destination development. - The Future of Living Summit is expected to continue spotlighting how real estate, tourism and hospitality are converging in Saudi Arabia and beyond. - The wider momentum around Expo 2030 Riyadh and the 2034 FIFA World Cup is likely to keep capital flowing toward large-scale mixed-use projects.

The bottom line: - Saudi Arabia is emerging as a test case for destination-led real estate, and Cityscape Global 2026 is betting that integrated mixed-use development will be one of the sector’s biggest growth stories.