Saudi Arabia currently owns one of the worlds most comprehensive housing development programs with an estimated USD 6 billion being allocated for various residential projects.

At an initial cost of around USD 87.8 billion, the Kingdom is pursuing an ambitious super project that aims to build six Economic Cities, which will be home to 2.5 million residents and are expected to collectively contribute USD 150 billion to the Saudi GDP and generate over 1.5 million jobs by 2020.

Riyadh Exhibitions Company, organiser of Saudi Build, the biggest business-to-business construction event in the region, has revealed that Saudi Arabias remarkably strong construction expenditure has been the primary factor that has motivated more than 650 regional and international companies to confirm their participation in the event this year. Riyadh Exhibitions Company further revealed that exhibitors, who will come from at least 33 countries, collectively regard Saudi Arabia as a safe and secure investment destination amid an otherwise bleak outlook within the global construction and real estate industries.

Saudi Build 2009 will be held from October 4 to 7, 2009 at the newly completed Riyadh International Exhibition Centre, one of the regions most advanced exhibition facilities. The event has been designed to be a gateway for investors to capitalise on the countrys construction market, and will feature two concurrent exhibitions C Saudi Build 2009, the 21st International Construction Technology and Building Materials Exhibition and Saudi Stone 2009, the 12th International Stone and Stone Technology Show.

Shahid Bhatti, Project Manager of Saudi Build at Riyadh Exhibitions Company said, Saudis construction sector has remained active and lucrative despite major upheavals in other international markets, with several super projects dominating the construction landscape. The consistently strong construction and real estate expenditure has easily made the Kingdom a lucrative growth destination for key players in the regional and international construction industry.

The surge in interest in Saudi Arabias construction sector has been manifested by the exceptional growth in participation at Saudi Build 2009 we have now exceeded the previous record in participation by 50 per cent and expect even more entries within the next few weeks. With exhibitors from more than 33 countries, we are also seeing the extent of the Kingdoms influence on the global construction scene, as companies from the Far East, Europe and other regions are highly enthusiastic about their participation in the back-to-back exhibitions, added Bhatti.

Saudi Build 2009 expects an influx of thousands of industry-related visitors, including high-profile business leaders from the Kingdom and around the world, diplomats and high-ranking Saudi Government officials. The event will also gather hundreds of exhibiting companies from Europe, Africa, the Middle East and Asia.

The concurrent Saudi Stone 2009 has been established to cater to evolving requirements and changing trends in stone technology products, machinery and services. The event will feature designers and landscapers who will showcase cutting-edge stone products, including marble, granite, travertine and stone derivatives, as well as cutting, polishing and manufacturing machinery. Saudi Stone 2009 will also host national pavilions representing Austria, China, Egypt, France, Germany, Greece, Indonesia, Iran, Italy, Portugal and Turkey.

Saudi Build 2009 expects to accommodate a combined total of up to 650 exhibitors spread out across a total area 23,250 square metres of indoor and outdoor exhibition space. Exhibitors and visitors will likewise benefit from the new cutting-edge facilities of the Riyadh International Exhibition Centre, which has been specifically formatted to optimise exposure and deliver greater accessibility to exhibition and business facilities.