Saudi Arabia's real estate-construction jobs exploded by 680% (How you can benefit?)

Table of Contents

• The Growth Story
• Why Is There a Job Boom? Key Factors Driving Growth
• Residential vs Commercial Growth Breakdown
• Will These Trends Continue? Future Outlook
• High-Growth Prospects: Specific Fields to Watch
• Your Gateway to KSA's Booming Job Market

The Growth Story

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's real estate and construction sectors are experiencing unprecedented growth that's impossible to ignore. 

Here's what the data reveals: 

Construction and civil engineering positions surged by an incredible 312% over the past five years (1). 

Real estate jobs experienced an even more dramatic transformation with over 1,000% growth in the same period (1). 

Combined, these sectors witnessed an average growth of 680% over five years. 

But why is this happening? 

The real estate sector's contribution to the national economy nearly doubled, rising from 5.9 percent of GDP in 2023 to approximately 12 percent in 2024 (5). This remarkable increase showcases the sector's growing importance in the kingdom's non-oil economy. 

The surge isn't accidental... 

It's the result of strategic government initiatives, massive infrastructure projects, and economic diversification efforts that are reshaping Saudi Arabia's landscape. 

Want to know what's driving this boom and how you can capitalize on it? 

Let's dive deeper. 

Why Is There a Job Boom? Key Factors Driving Growth

The explosive growth in Saudi Arabia's real estate and construction sectors stems from multiple powerful forces working together. 

Vision 2030: The Game Changer 

Saudi Arabia's vision 2030 reform agenda serves as the primary catalyst for this transformation (2). The kingdom's commitment to economic diversification has unleashed unprecedented investment in real estate and infrastructure. 

Mega Projects Creating Massive Opportunities 

Key developments are reshaping the landscape: 

• Neom 
• The red sea project 
• Qiddiya 
• Preparations for expo 2030 
• Fifa world cup 2034™ preparations (2) 

These giga-projects are creating new urban hubs and tourism destinations, demanding thousands of skilled professionals. 

Foreign Investment Surge 

Despite a temporary decline in foreign direct investment during Q1-Q3 2024, the outlook remains bright. The national investment strategy projects FDI inflows to reach SAR 388 billion by 2030, reflecting a compound annual growth rate of 22% from the 2023 figure of SAR 95.9 billion (2). 

Regulatory Reforms Attracting Global Players 

Over 130 foreign real estate investment licenses were issued in 2024 alone, signaling heightened confidence among global investors (2). 

But there's more... 

Project Activity Explosion 

In 2024, Saudi authorities issued: 

• 192 new real estate project licenses (5) 
• 3,800 construction permits – a 59 percent increase in Q4-2024 alone (5) 

This acceleration reflects strong domestic demand and growing international interest. 

Housing Demand Surge 

The Saudi housing programme, created in 2018, aims to increase access to affordable, quality housing (3). Over the coming decade, the kingdom will need to create approximately 1.2 million new homes to reach a housing stock of 4.96 million houses by 2030 (3). 

Housing demand is expected to increase from 99,600 houses in 2021 to 153,000 houses by 2030 (3). 

Now, let's break down how this growth is manifesting across different segments. 

Residential vs Commercial Growth Breakdown

The boom isn't uniform across all sectors... 

Each segment tells its own compelling growth story. 

Residential Market Explosion 

The residential property market continues experiencing strong growth, fueled by rapid urban expansion, favorable demographics, and government-backed housing initiatives (2). 

Key residential market indicators: 

• Transaction volume and value across Riyadh, Jeddah and Dammam increased by approximately 50% between 2023 and 2024 (4) 
• Total residential transactions reached 102,522 in 2024, with a total value of SAR 118 billion (USD 32 billion) (4) 
• Riyadh led the way with a significant 10.7% annual increase in residential real estate prices in 2024 (2) 

Pricing Trends: 

• Riyadh sales rates increased by 5% for apartments and 12% for villas in 2024 (4) 
• Average villa prices in Riyadh now approach SAR 6,000 (USD 1,599.75) per square meter (2) 
• Jeddah apartment values average around SAR 4,000 (USD $1,066.47) per square meter (2) 

Commercial Real Estate Boom 

The commercial sector is showing equally impressive performance... 

Office space in Riyadh has become increasingly scarce, with prime districts operating near full occupancy by the end of 2024 (2). 

Commercial growth metrics: 

• Rental rates in Riyadh's office sector for Prime and Grade A rentals rose by 17and 25 percent year on year (Q1-2025) (2) 
• Jeddah and Dammam experienced healthy increases as well (2) 
• Limited availability of high-grade office space is constraining transactional activity (2) 

This scarcity is prompting developers to fast-track commercial construction pipelines. 

But will this growth continue? 

Will These Trends Continue? Future Outlook

The short answer is yes... 

Here's why the momentum will only accelerate. 

Game-Changing Policy Shift 

Saudi Arabia's new property law will open its real estate market to foreign ownership in January 2026 (5). This reform marks a pivotal shift, unlocking access to a high-growth sector amid rising demand, investment, and urban expansion. 

Geographic expansion: 

• Foreign nationals will be permitted to purchase property within designated areas 
• Initial focus on major urban hubs such as Riyadh and Jeddah (5) 

Strategic objectives include: 

• Increasing real estate supply and housing availability 
• Attracting global real estate developers and institutional investors 
• Stimulating foreign direct investment as part of broader economic diversification goals (5) 

Long-term Housing Demand 

The fundamentals supporting growth remain rock-solid: 

• Growing population requiring housing solutions 
• Rapid urbanization continuing across major cities 
• Rising incomes creating more purchasing power 
• Increased domestic and international migration to urban hubs (2) 

The outlook? 

Market stimulation is expected to rise further in 2025 with key projects, such as Roshn's Aldanah, currently underway (4). 

So which specific fields offer the greatest opportunities? 

High-Growth Prospects: Specific Fields to Watch

Not all opportunities are created equal... 

These specific fields within real estate and construction offer the highest growth potential and job creation prospects. 

Construction and civil engineering 

• Project management 
• Structural engineering 
• Site supervision 
• Quality control and safety management 
• Heavy machinery operation 

Real estate development 

• Urban planning and design 
• Real estate finance and investment 
• Property management 
• Sales and leasing specialists 
• Market research and analysis 

Sustainable and smart developments

Key trends shaping the market include the rise of sustainable and smart developments, increased demand for luxury and mixed-use properties (2). 

Specialized growth areas: 

• Green building certification specialists 
• Smart home technology integration 
• Energy-efficient construction methods 
• Sustainable materials sourcing 
• Environmental impact assessment 

Luxury and mixed-use properties

The growing emphasis on luxury developments creates opportunities in: 

• High-end architectural design 
• Premium materials sourcing 
• Luxury property marketing 
• Hospitality integration specialists 
• Landscape architecture 

Affordable housing sector

With growing emphasis on affordable housing to meet the needs of the kingdom's expanding population (2), opportunities include: 

• Cost-effective construction methods 
• Social housing project management 
• Community development planning 
• Affordable housing finance 

Why does this matter for job seekers? 

As these fields grow, they create a multiplier effect – generating more jobs across supporting industries and services. 

Ready to capitalize on this unprecedented opportunity? 

Your Gateway to KSA's Booming Job Market

Saudi Arabia's real estate and construction sectors are experiencing historic growth. 

With 680% job growth over the last five years and no signs of slowing down, the opportunity window is wide open. 

But here's the thing... 

By choosing Naukrigulf, you can significantly increase your chances of landing your next job in these emerging sectors in KSA. The best companies and recruiters are on our platform, and they're actively hiring right now. 

Here are 10 available opportunities in KSA

1. Planning Engineer at Kooheji Contractors W.L.L Saudi Arabia 
2. Real Estate Agent at ALAQTAR – Riyadh, Saudi Arabia 
3. Real Estate Specialist at Grnata Group – Riyadh, Saudi Arabia 
4. Sales Manager at Abyatona Real Estate – Riyadh, Saudi Arabia 
5. Logistics Officer at Elegancia Arabia – Tabuk, Saudi Arabia 
6. Technical Superintendent at NEOM – Saudi Arabia 
7. Senior Manager – Property Management at Azad Properties – Jeddah, Saudi Arabia 
8. Project Director, Civil at Shapoorji Pallonji Mideast – Jeddah, Saudi Arabia 
9. Resident Engineer – Civil at Abdulrahman Al Rabiah Engineering Consultants Office – Dammam, Saudi Arabia 
10. Senior Manager, Real Estate at NEOM – Saudi Arabia 

Think these aren't the right fit for you? 

Explore more than 1,000 available jobs by clicking on the link below and discover your perfect opportunity in Saudi Arabia's booming economy.

Explore Real Estate- Construction jobs in Saudi Arabia

The growth is real. The opportunities are abundant. Your future in Saudi Arabia's thriving real estate and construction sectors starts now. 

References:

1. Naukrigulf internal analytics 
2. Saudi Arabia real estate market review Q1 2025 (source: cbre-sa) 
3. Saudi housing programme  (source: pwc) 
4. Riyadh residential performance (source: deloitte middle east) 
5. Saudi Arabia new property law  (source: middle east briefing)