Cityscape Global 2024 solidified its status as the largest real estate exhibition in the world, closing its second edition at the Riyadh Exhibition & Convention Center in Malham with an astonishing milestone: $61.3 billion in real estate transactions. The four-day event showcased Saudi Arabia’s emergence as a global hub for real estate, with a highlight being the Guinness World Record-breaking auction of a land parcel in North Riyadh, sold for $979 million.
A Thriving Market
This year’s event underlined the booming real estate sector in Saudi Arabia, as highlighted by Rachel Sturgess, Senior Vice-President of Tahaluf, the event’s organizers. “The real estate market in Saudi Arabia is booming right now,” said Sturgess, citing impressive growth across all metrics. Over 172,000 attendees visited the event, which featured 426 exhibitors — a 37% increase from 2023.
The exhibition’s total floorspace also saw significant expansion, increasing by 61% year-on-year to cover 121,000 square meters — equivalent to 97 Olympic-sized swimming pools. International exhibitor participation rose sharply, with a 47% increase compared to the previous year, emphasizing the event’s growing international appeal.
Record Sales and Deals
During the event’s closing ceremony, Abdullah Alhammad, CEO of Saudi Arabia’s Real Estate General Authority, highlighted the extraordinary impact of Cityscape Global. Developers reported $5.3 billion in combined local and international transactions. On the opening day alone, major launches worth $48 billion were unveiled, while strategic agreements signed throughout the exhibition exceeded $8 billion.
Developer success stories abounded, with one company selling 70% of an off-plan project within the first two days, and another achieving a complete sellout of their development in just three days. Another developer sold five buildings from a 25-building project in the first hour of the event.
A Global Real Estate Leader
Reflecting on the event’s success, Sturgess commended the dedication of all stakeholders. “After the inaugural edition, we became the number one real estate event in the world. It’s an honour to close this year’s show by saying we are still number one.”
Cityscape Global not only highlighted Saudi Arabia’s pivotal role in global real estate but also underscored the country’s progress toward achieving its Vision 2030 goals.
Looking Ahead to 2025
Cityscape Global will return from November 10–13, 2025, with expectations to build on the success of this year’s record-breaking edition.
With $61 billion in transactions, groundbreaking developer achievements, and a surge in international participation, Cityscape Global 2024 has set a new benchmark for the global real estate industry, reinforcing its position as a key event on the international calendar.
