<The first day of the Global Infrastructure Forum and Exhibition 2025, which was inaugurated by His Highness Prince Dr. Faisal bin Abdulaziz bin Ayyaf, Secretary of Riyadh Region and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Riyadh Infrastructure Projects Center, at the Riyadh International Convention and Exhibition Center, in the presence of local and international officials and specialists, where the number of visitors on the first day exceeded 7000 visitors from inside and outside the Kingdom.
The first day witnessed the launch of the Office of Project Support and Major Events, which aims to support integrated work between entities, raise the level of coordination to prevent conflicts in project work, enhance the quality of life, and contribute to raising the efficiency of spending, thus contributing to the sustainable urban development of Riyadh city.
The forum also included honoring the winners of the Infrastructure 2025 Award in its three tracks: Al Sabaq Arabian Trading and Contracting Company (water sector), Basic Gateway Communications and Information Technology Company (telecommunications sector), Broad Foundation Contracting Company (electricity sector), and Al Rousan Contracting Company (roads and public domain sector), while the National Water Company won the Outstanding Service Entity Award. The scientific research and innovation track saw Sulaiman bin Mohammed Al Jabreen win first place, Hussein bin Nasser Shaman second place, and Warda bint Ali Al Shahrani third place.
During the first day, a keynote session titled: “National Infrastructure Vision: Transforming Sectors through Alignment, Innovation and Implementation”, in which H.E. Engineer Fahad Al Bedah, CEO of Riyadh Infrastructure Projects Center, H.E. Mr. Mohammed Al Batti, CEO of the National Housing Company (NHC), and H.E. Engineer Ibrahim Al Khanizan, Executive Vice President of Distribution and Subscriber Services at Saudi Electricity Company participated.
The forum also witnessed a second session titled “Integrated Infrastructure Planning: Simplifying regulations and enhancing cross-sector collaboration” with the participation of H.E. Tariq Al Shami, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Transport and Logistics for Road Operation and Maintenance, H.E. Badr Al Tamimi, Vice President of the Infrastructure Center for Integrated Planning, H.E. Khalid Al Arik, Vice President of the Government Spending Efficiency and Projects Authority for Planning and Project Management, and Clelia Rantoiani, Practice Manager for Global Practices Governance Management for MENA, Afghanistan and Pakistan who discussed the importance of regulatory harmonization and institutional collaboration in accelerating development.
The third session, titled “Innovative Infrastructure Finance: Successful Models and Public-Private Collaboration,” featured H.E. Mr. Abdul Elah Al Sheikh, Regional Director of Jacobs in Saudi Arabia, Dr. Mansoor Al Otaibi, Executive Director of Strategy, H.E. Engineer Samir Omar, Executive Director of PPP Infrastructure at Red Sea International, and Harpreet Hungra, Director of Infrastructure, Transportation and Utilities at the Royal Commission of AlUla, moderated by Mark Jamieson, Executive Director of Qiddiya Institute and MENA President of the Institution of Civil Engineers.
In the fourth session, “Shaping the Future of Water Infrastructure: Leadership and Long Term Vision (SWA Committee)”, the panelists discussed the future of water management in the Kingdom, and included HE Engineer Mohammed bin Saleh Al Hadi, Vice President of Business Development and Growth at Saudi Water Partnerships Company, HE Engineer Abdullah bin Mohammed Al Haji, Executive Director of Engineering and Project Management at Water Transport Company, HE Engineer Sami bin Mohammed Al Hamza, Undersecretary for Technical Affairs and Projects at Saudi Water Authority, and HE Engineer Rayan bin Mohammed Asiri, Vice President for Corporate Development at General Irrigation Corporation.
The first day came to a close with a panel of speakers. The first day concluded with a workshop titled “Innovative Technologies Driving Sustainable Water Infrastructure in Emerging Markets,” presented by H.E. Mr. Fahad Mahmoud Al Fahad, Chief Technology Officer at GI Aqua Tech, and moderated by Engineer Mustafa Al Hakim, Director of Technical Development Department at the Infrastructure Projects Center in Riyadh.
The participants emphasized that major projects can only be realized with a strong infrastructure capable of absorbing the rapid growth witnessed by the Kingdom, noting the remarkable development in the number of licenses for infrastructure projects, which increased from 71 thousand licenses in 2017 to 151 thousand licenses last year, with an aspiration to reach 200 thousand licenses by the end of 2025.
The participants also reviewed the most prominent achievements, including the length of the networks to reach more than 800 thousand kilometers, the operation and renewal of 11.4 million smart meters, in addition to the efforts of the Center and the relevant authorities to reduce interruptions and protect assets, stressing that the main goal is the satisfaction of citizens, residents and visitors.
The forum will continue until Wednesday, September 17, 2025, with the participation of a group of infrastructure sector leaders and local and international experts, who will discuss specialized topics including national infrastructure vision, integrated planning, innovative financing, and innovative technologies for sustainable infrastructure.
The first day witnessed the launch of the Office of Project Support and Major Events, which aims to support integrated work between entities, raise the level of coordination to prevent conflicts in project work, enhance the quality of life, and contribute to raising the efficiency of spending, thus contributing to the sustainable urban development of Riyadh city.
The forum also included honoring the winners of the Infrastructure 2025 Award in its three tracks: Al Sabaq Arabian Trading and Contracting Company (water sector), Basic Gateway Communications and Information Technology Company (telecommunications sector), Broad Foundation Contracting Company (electricity sector), and Al Rousan Contracting Company (roads and public domain sector), while the National Water Company won the Outstanding Service Entity Award. The scientific research and innovation track saw Sulaiman bin Mohammed Al Jabreen win first place, Hussein bin Nasser Shaman second place, and Warda bint Ali Al Shahrani third place.
During the first day, a keynote session titled: “National Infrastructure Vision: Transforming Sectors through Alignment, Innovation and Implementation”, in which H.E. Engineer Fahad Al Bedah, CEO of Riyadh Infrastructure Projects Center, H.E. Mr. Mohammed Al Batti, CEO of the National Housing Company (NHC), and H.E. Engineer Ibrahim Al Khanizan, Executive Vice President of Distribution and Subscriber Services at Saudi Electricity Company participated.
The forum also witnessed a second session titled “Integrated Infrastructure Planning: Simplifying regulations and enhancing cross-sector collaboration” with the participation of H.E. Tariq Al Shami, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Transport and Logistics for Road Operation and Maintenance, H.E. Badr Al Tamimi, Vice President of the Infrastructure Center for Integrated Planning, H.E. Khalid Al Arik, Vice President of the Government Spending Efficiency and Projects Authority for Planning and Project Management, and Clelia Rantoiani, Practice Manager for Global Practices Governance Management for MENA, Afghanistan and Pakistan who discussed the importance of regulatory harmonization and institutional collaboration in accelerating development.
The third session, titled “Innovative Infrastructure Finance: Successful Models and Public-Private Collaboration,” featured H.E. Mr. Abdul Elah Al Sheikh, Regional Director of Jacobs in Saudi Arabia, Dr. Mansoor Al Otaibi, Executive Director of Strategy, H.E. Engineer Samir Omar, Executive Director of PPP Infrastructure at Red Sea International, and Harpreet Hungra, Director of Infrastructure, Transportation and Utilities at the Royal Commission of AlUla, moderated by Mark Jamieson, Executive Director of Qiddiya Institute and MENA President of the Institution of Civil Engineers.
In the fourth session, “Shaping the Future of Water Infrastructure: Leadership and Long Term Vision (SWA Committee)”, the panelists discussed the future of water management in the Kingdom, and included HE Engineer Mohammed bin Saleh Al Hadi, Vice President of Business Development and Growth at Saudi Water Partnerships Company, HE Engineer Abdullah bin Mohammed Al Haji, Executive Director of Engineering and Project Management at Water Transport Company, HE Engineer Sami bin Mohammed Al Hamza, Undersecretary for Technical Affairs and Projects at Saudi Water Authority, and HE Engineer Rayan bin Mohammed Asiri, Vice President for Corporate Development at General Irrigation Corporation.
The first day came to a close with a panel of speakers. The first day concluded with a workshop titled “Innovative Technologies Driving Sustainable Water Infrastructure in Emerging Markets,” presented by H.E. Mr. Fahad Mahmoud Al Fahad, Chief Technology Officer at GI Aqua Tech, and moderated by Engineer Mustafa Al Hakim, Director of Technical Development Department at the Infrastructure Projects Center in Riyadh.
The participants emphasized that major projects can only be realized with a strong infrastructure capable of absorbing the rapid growth witnessed by the Kingdom, noting the remarkable development in the number of licenses for infrastructure projects, which increased from 71 thousand licenses in 2017 to 151 thousand licenses last year, with an aspiration to reach 200 thousand licenses by the end of 2025.
The participants also reviewed the most prominent achievements, including the length of the networks to reach more than 800 thousand kilometers, the operation and renewal of 11.4 million smart meters, in addition to the efforts of the Center and the relevant authorities to reduce interruptions and protect assets, stressing that the main goal is the satisfaction of citizens, residents and visitors.
The forum will continue until Wednesday, September 17, 2025, with the participation of a group of infrastructure sector leaders and local and international experts, who will discuss specialized topics including national infrastructure vision, integrated planning, innovative financing, and innovative technologies for sustainable infrastructure.
