Read the January 2026 MEED Business Review

Saudi Arabia courts real estate investment; EVs and battery production are key regional tech themes; Muscat holds a steady growth course despite headwinds

After nearly a decade of Saudi sovereign wealth vehicle the Public Investment Fund (PIF) taking on the delivery burden of the kingdom’s largest projects, Riyadh is now turning to private sector real estate developers to help deliver its ambitions.

The shift reflects both opportunity and necessity. The PIF-led model has enabled Saudi Arabia to fast-track its gigaprojects and anchor Vision 2030’s transformation objectives. Riyadh is now looking for the private sector to maintain this momentum.

Changes to legislation on foreign ownership of real estate, the introduction of a white land tax, rental freezes and mortgage-backed securities aim to help the real estate sector evolve into a more diversified industry. Read more on the anticipated surge in Saudi real estate in this month’s Agenda section here.

This month’s market focus, meanwhile, covers Oman, and finds Muscat advancing diversification and energy expansion while maintaining fiscal caution.

MEED’s latest issue also includes a round-up of the key technology themes poised to shape 2026, from electric vehicles to battery production.

This edition is bursting with features and interviews. The team talks to Tabreed CEO Khalid Al-Marzooqi; discusses how to manage risk in the GCC construction market; highlights the UAE and Qatar as markets to watch in MEED’s Economic Activity Index; and reviews the top deals signed at the Dubai Airshow. Senior executives from Jacobs also provide an exclusive op-ed on the acceleration of Saudi Arabia’s rail revolution.