USD20 Billion to be Invested in Greening the GCC Over the Next Decade

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12 Sep 2019

Over the next decade, investment for landscaping and associated facilities in the GCC will near $20 billion, a report released by Middle East’s premier trade event for green urban spaces, the Urban Design & Landscape Expo (UDLE), reveals. Just under half of this will be required in Saudi Arabia, while more than $6 billion will be destined for the UAE market.

According to the report, which was produced by MEED Projects for UDLE, the lack of natural greenery is pushing developers to increasingly consider the aesthetic of their projects as well as the well-being and health of their users. “Being mostly desert and arid, the requirement for green landscaping around residential, commercial and mixed-use projects is high in the GCC region,” said Josine Heijmans, Portfolio Director at dmg events.

“With long-term government visions like Saudi 2030 driving investment in new projects, massive opportunities are coming up for landscape industry players. This clearly reflects in the outstanding success of a show like the Urban Design & Landscape Expo, where the growing regional demand can meet both the local and international offer,” she added.

The expanding landscape investment requirements come in the backdrop of almost $1.5 trillion worth of planned and un-awarded construction and civil infrastructure projects, which are expected to be awarded over the next 5-15 years in the GCC. The largest single future projects market will be Saudi Arabia followed by the UAE. Other GCC states will also offer a wealth of opportunities for the landscaping industry, the report states.

From 25 to 28 November 2019 at the Dubai World Trade Centre, the Urban Design & Landscape Expo will host over 90 local and international exhibitors, showcasing the latest solutions in hard landscaping, irrigation and drainage, machinery & equipment, sports & playgrounds, materials & components, specialist sectors, and design, planning & consulting.

Confirmed exhibitors include renowned brands like Al Baddad, Elysee Irrigation, Verseidag, Ithara Group, Huck, Serge Ferrari, Fujairah Concrete Products, Bagattini, Berliner and Therrawood.

After last year’s success, the must-attend event for landscape and urban design professionals will further increase its educational offer. Beyond running the second edition of the “Urban Design & Landscape Summit”, UDLE will introduce three days of CPD (Continuing Professional Development) certified workshops alongside the exhibition this year.

The lineup of speakers includes high-profile industry leaders like Dhay Aldawyan, Head of the Center for Development of Urban Design and Planning of Saudi Cities at the Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs of Saudi Arabia, Dr. Hanan Aljabri, the Director of Strategic Planning at the Muscat Municipality, and George Arvanitis, the Director of Master Planning and Urban Design at Parsons Corporation, among many others.

The Urban Design & Landscape Expo will run alongside The Big 5, Middle East’s largest construction event, in co-location with The Big 5 Heavy, Middle East Concrete, Middle East Stone, HVAC R Expo, and The Big 5 Solar.

The show is supported by Lumo (Lighting Partner), Belhasa Projects (Landscape Solutions Partner), RAKNOR (Pavers Partner), Dynamo Playgrounds (Playgrounds Partner), Ducon Outdoor Living (Outdoor Living Solutions Partner), and SEWA (Supporting Partner).

On its debut last year, the UDLE gathered over 90 exhibiting companies from around the globe, attracting more than 3,400 visitors. It was also awarded Best Marketing Campaign for a trade event at the AEO Excellence Awards.

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