News

Saudi Arabia Set To Invest $1 Trillion In The Real Estate Sector

Backed by a young population and expanding urbanization, the property sector has impressive future growth potential.

Published

4 years ago

December 12, 2022

saudi arabia set to invest $1 trillion in the real estate sector

S&P Global Ratings, a major US credit rating agency, has forecast sustained market growth for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, as $1 trillion is set to be pumped into infrastructure and real estate projects over the coming decade.

As well as a young and growing population, expanding urbanization is a significant reason for S&P’s promising predictions, with at least eight new cities being planned along the Red Sea coast by 2030. During the Distinguished Cities Projects Exhibition in Riyadh, nine agreements worth $533 million were signed by the National Housing Company and other national strategic partners.

Saudi Arabia’s large-scale real estate programs will provide 1.3 million new homes overall, invigorating the business and financial sectors, and pumping money into both commercial and residential building via investments.

Saudi Arabia’s economy has also benefited from government initiatives to attract multinational companies, with tech startups, in particular, gravitating to the Kingdom and boosting the occupancy rates of commercial and office real estate across the region.

Also Read: Metaverse Will Bring $15B Annually To Gulf Economies By 2030

S&P also noted that many new programs had been initiated to scale up local housing and revitalize the financial sector, potentially benefiting commercial real estate across the country. As the tourism sector continues to grow rapidly, even more real estate investment opportunities will present themselves as companies and private individuals seek to relocate to Saudi Arabia.

As well as experiencing a dramatic flourishing of the commercial and residential real estate sectors, Saudi Arabia’s 2030 vision is also bringing a boost to energy, healthcare and the wider digital economy.

News

Syria Just Got Its First Super App Featuring Built-In Digital Payments

Built by UAE-based Syrian founders with the Ministry of Tourism’s backing, My Syria lands as visitor numbers more than double.

Published

4 days ago

August 1, 2026

Nour Nasir

syria just got its first super app featuring built-in digital payments

For most of the past decade, paying for anything in Syria with an international card was effectively impossible. Sanctions, a collapsed banking sector, and years of isolation left the country running on cash. That is what makes the launch of My Syria — the country’s first super app — more than a routine product announcement.

Developed by 121 Living, a company founded by four UAE-based Syrian entrepreneurs — Rami Kaiem, Feras Kaiem, Waseem Qudmani, and Kinan Madi — the app launched in Damascus on July 30 under the patronage of Minister of Tourism Mazen Al-Salhani. It bundles hotels, restaurants, transport, attractions, food delivery, and other lifestyle services into a single platform, currently offering eight services with plans to expand to more than 40 verified tourism and hospitality providers across the country.

Although the app already sounds enticing, the headline feature is its built-in payments. My Syria is the first platform in Syria to support cross-border digital payments through Apple Pay, Google Pay, Visa, Mastercard, and American Express — familiar tools for international visitors, and a route into the digital economy for local businesses that have long operated outside it.

my syria super app launch event

The launch rides on a sharp rebound for the troubled country. Syria’s tourism sector recorded 3.52 million visitor arrivals in the first half of 2026, a 111 percent increase over the 1.67 million during the same period in 2025 — a mix of returning expatriates, regional visitors, and international tourists.

Also Read: This UAE Platform Wants To Replace Fashion Photo Shoots With AI

The Ministry of Tourism, which supported and supervised the app’s development, frames the launch as proof of concept for a wider strategy. “Digital transformation is one of the Ministry’s strategic priorities because it enables us to build a more competitive, connected and investment-ready tourism sector,” Al-Salhani said, inviting technology companies “globally, regionally and locally” to explore opportunities across the wider economy.

For 121 Living, this is phase one, with additional services and expanded geographic coverage planned. Whether a super app can flourish in a market still rebuilding its infrastructure is an open question, but for the first time in years, a visitor to Damascus can pay for dinner with their phone.