Saudi Arabia’s Diriyah Company marks first participation at WEF 2025, leads urban development discussion

Saudi Arabian real estate developer Diriyah Company made its debut at the World Economic Forum (WEF) 2025 in Davos this week, playing a key role in a high-level discussion on innovative solutions for large-scale contemporary urban development. The session, hosted by the Saudi Pavilion representing Saudi Arabia's participation in the WEF, saw the attendance of numerous international stakeholders and decision-makers for a meeting titled “New Frontiers in Contemporary Urban Development,” with Jerry Inzerillo, Group CEO of Diriyah Company, present.

During the panel discussion, participants including Rami Al Turki, Managing Director and Chairman of the Executive Committee of Nesma & Partners, and Aparna Bawa, Chief Operating Officer of Zoom, explored how visionary urban planning, technological integration, collaborative strategies, and investment opportunities are redefining the future of cities. Mr. Inzerillo was among the distinguished experts contributing to the dynamic discussion aimed at transforming historical sites into vibrant, human-centric urban centers, inspired by Diriyah, the “City of Earth” located on the outskirts of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

The panelists examined cross-industry collaboration, unique investment opportunities, and the pivotal role of smart technologies in developing sustainable, inclusive cities that are attractive to investors, businesses, and residents. Diriyah Company’s participation marks a significant milestone, following its qualification as an Associate Partner of the WEF in 2024. Speaking about their involvement in Davos, Mr. Inzerillo stated, “We are very proud to participate in the largest annual gathering of the global economic and political community. This provides an unparalleled opportunity to share our story with the world and the opportunities that Diriyah presents.”

Mr. Inzerillo also expressed, “We are grateful for the support and guidance of His Highness Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Saudi Arabia and Head of the Kingdom's delegation to the WEF, and His Excellency Khalid Al-Falih, Minister of Investment of the Kingdom, in making this possible. We are honored to host global stakeholders at the Saudi Pavilion alongside numerous ministries and other leading organizations. This high-profile event provided insights into how new smart development technologies and processes are accelerating asset construction and delivery within highly complex and interconnected master plans like Diriyah, highlighting the critical role of international investment in achieving these goals.”

The event at the Saudi Pavilion also examined innovative urban development models, identifying solutions to address global urbanization challenges and enhance the quality of life, while highlighting unique investment opportunities within this ecosystem. Al Turki added, “One of the goals of our timely and highly relevant discussion is to demonstrate the importance of collaboration between developers and contracting companies in accelerating urban development. By working together to integrate innovative technologies and sustainable practices, we are not just building infrastructure; we are creating thriving communities that align with the ambitious goals of Vision 2030. At Nesma & Partners, we are proud to play a key role in shaping the future of Saudi Arabia’s cities alongside forward-thinking partners like Diriyah Company.”

Participants at the session also discussed how robust public-private sector partnerships and shared goals are essential for building future human-centric cities, a debate that aligns with the WEF 2025 theme of “Cooperation in the Age of Intelligence.” This was one of two sessions that Diriyah Company participated in at the Saudi Pavilion. The first was a fireside chat with Talal Kensara, Head of Strategic Management at Diriyah Company, discussing the various investment opportunities available to global investors in the $63.2 billion giga-project backed by the Public Investment Fund. Additionally, company executives attended various high-profile networking events throughout the WEF, engaging with global stakeholders.

Furthermore, Diriyah is one of five high-profile giga-projects in Saudi Arabia, and the only urban-focused development, aiming to create a new modern city that embraces 300 years of history and heritage from the birthplace of the modern Saudi nation. The project is designed to accommodate 100,000 residents, feature over 40 luxury hotels, provide office space for tens of thousands of employees, and include arts and cultural districts, world-class sporting facilities, and hundreds of retail outlets. As a cornerstone of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 strategy, Diriyah plans to host 50 million visitors by 2030, contributing $18.6 billion to the Kingdom’s GDP.