The Saudi real estate sector saw a reduction in the number of transactions residential markets, while hospitality and office rents saw significant gains, according to a Deloitte report.
While the number of Saudi residential transactions fell, the price of property in Riyadh and Jeddah increased, said the professional services firm.
Deloitte released its comprehensive Saudi Arabia Real Estate Report for the year 2023, providing valuable insights into the Kingdom’s property market growth and future prospects.
Residential real estate in Saudi Arabia
The report highlights the impact of the positive economic conditions in the Kingdom so far on the performance of the real estate market, as the gross domestic product (GDP) reached SR10.1tn ($2.7tn) in 2023 and is anticipated to grow to SR11.6tn ($3.1tn) by 2030.
This is based on a projected annual growth rate of 1.6 per cent, as per data sourced from Oxford Economics.
The trends in residential property are shifting towards homes that accommodate remote work facilities and incorporating wellness-centric features.
The demand for flexible workspace is also witnessing a surge, compelling developers to innovate office designs tailored for hybrid work models.
Similarly, the retail and hospitality sectors are also undergoing adaptation to cater to changing consumer behaviours, with a particular focus on experiential spaces.
Stefan Burch, Partner and Head of Real Estate at Deloitte Middle East, said: “2023 continued to be dominated by strong levels of demand for commercial office space both from large corporates and SMEs reflecting robust economic activity in the Kingdom, while in the residential markets demand has shifted to apartment stock as affordability continues to be a key driver amid a backdrop of higher interest rates.
“As the market continues to evolve, 2024 looks set to be dominated by the delivery of high-quality mixed-use schemes that more accurately respond to market demand both in terms of pricing and offering.”
Oliver Morgan, Partner and Head of Development in Deloitte’s Real Estate team in the Middle East said: “The Kingdom is now in delivery mode; the last 12 months have seen innovative approaches to bring key development projects to market.
“The sophistication of due diligence, regulations and use of technology are all changing the way investors and our clients are planning projects – all leading to a more institutional approach in delivery.
“Our predictions for the market focus on continued growth in landmark funding deals, the impact of ESG as a value creator from lifecycle cost savings and how retail needs to evolve to stay relevant.”
Residential market in Saudi Arabia
Transaction volumes in the Saudi residential sector have seen a decrease, yet sales prices for villas and apartments continued to ascend in 2023 compared to the previous year.
Notably, Riyadh, Jeddah, and Dammam collectively recorded 67,233 residential transactions in 2023, totalling SR79bn ($21.1bn), reflecting a 15 per cent decrease in value compared to 2022.
Sales prices and rents have experienced notable growth across Riyadh and Jeddah.
Sales prices and rents have experienced growth across Riyadh and Jeddah, with sales rates in Riyadh increasing by 5 per cent and 8 per cent for villas and apartments respectively, based on transaction data from the Ministry of Justice.
In Riyadh, approximately 80 per cent of the transacted apartments in the last 12 months were priced between SR250,000 to SR1m, ($66,000 to $266,000), primarily catering to the low to mid-income segments of the population.
While North Riyadh has emerged as a prominent residential hub, South Riyadh has witnessed maximum growth in the share of transactions in the last five years, mainly due to availability of affordable stock.
By comparison, in Jeddah, there is a growing demand for upper-middle to high-end residential units.
The majority of the price growth is attributable to North Jeddah, where the upward price movement has been the most significant compared to other locations.
In DMA, the majority of residential supply is located within the northern regions. The current available stock is targeted towards the midscale segment of the population, offering standalone residential villas or low to mid-rise apartment developments with more than 85 per cent of apartment transactions recorded at a unit price below SR930,000 ($248,000).
Hospitality market in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia’s tourism industry is on the rebound, attracting 53.6m visitors in in the first half of 2023, with 14.6m inbound tourists and 39m domestic tourists.
This influx in tourism is projected to contribute 6 per cent to the country’s GDP in 2023.
Efforts such as the facilitation of tourist visas for GCC residents, the extension of visa on arrival to UK, US and EU residents, has supported the country’s hospitality sector in the post pandemic period.
The Saudi Arabia occupancy rate averaged 63 per cent in 2023, showing an increase from 58.2 per cent during 2022. Occupancy in Riyadh averaged 64.7 per cent while Jeddah averaged 63.2 per cent in 2023.
Riyadh’s average daily rate (ADR) surged by 18 per cent Y-o-Y during 2023, reaching SR797 ($213).
Riyadh hotels recorded the strongest occupancy in October and November reaching 80 per cent, meanwhile, Jeddah hotels recorded their highest occupancy performance in May at 79 per cent.
Office market in Saudi Arabia
Office supply in the key markets of Riyadh, Jeddah and DMA stood at 5.9 million sqm, 2.1 million sqm and 1.4 million sqm respectively as of end of 2023.
Grade A office space rent witnessed an 11 per cent year on year increase in Riyadh, 7 per cent in Jeddah and 4 per cent in Dammam.
Notable additions include Hiyazah Gate, Yline, North Yard and Luxury Plaza located in Al Yasmin district of Riyadh.
A significant portion of the King Abdullah Financial District (KAFD) office supply has been successfully delivered, demonstrating high pre-leasing/leasing rates.
Industrial and logistics in Saudi Arabia
The launch of four Special Economic Zones (SEZs) in 2023, including King Abdullah Economic City, Jazan, Ras Al Khair, and Cloud Computing in the King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology, is expected to create new avenues for sustainable business growth.
These zones are poised to become global investment destinations, focusing on various sectors such as automobile supply chain, consumer goods, ICT, pharmaceuticals, and logistics.
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