Saudi Arabia's development landscape continues to evolve rapidly as the Kingdom advances Vision 2030 and invests heavily in tourism, entertainment, infrastructure, logistics, renewable energy, real estate and sports.

While many of the Kingdom's giga projects are multi year developments that will continue beyond 2026, the year represents an important milestone for several major projects. From new tourism destinations on the Red Sea to entertainment developments in Riyadh and large scale logistics infrastructure in NEOM, these projects are expected to create new economic activity and demand for skilled talent.

AMAALA : Triple Bay

Located on Saudi Arabia's Red Sea coast, AMAALA is being developed as a luxury tourism and wellness destination combining hospitality, residential, cultural and recreational offerings.

The project is expected to be completed in 2026, with Phase One planned to include 1,470 hotel keys and 160 residential units.

Beyond construction, developments of this scale require talent across hospitality management, engineering, facilities management, healthcare and wellness, operations, finance, technology, security and customer experience.

Shura Island : The Red Sea

Shura Island is the centerpiece of The Red Sea destination and is being developed with luxury resorts, residences, retail, leisure facilities and an 18 hole island golf course.

Following the opening of its first properties, eight additional resorts and Red Sea Residences are scheduled to follow in 2026.

The expansion is expected to create demand across hospitality operations, engineering, facilities management, F&B, tourism, transportation, security and guest services.

 Aquarabia : Qiddiya City

Qiddiya continues to transform the entertainment and tourism landscape around Riyadh. One of its major attractions, Aquarabia, officially opened to the public on 23 April 2026.

The water theme park covers more than 250,000 square metres and features 22 rides and experiences, including four world record attractions.

The opening creates requirements not only during construction but also across park operations, hospitality, maintenance, safety, technology, customer service and facility management.

Aramco Stadium : Al Khobar

The new Aramco Stadium in Al Khobar is designed to accommodate approximately 47,000 spectators.

Construction began in 2024, with completion expected in 2026. The stadium is intended to serve as the home venue for Al Qadsiah and as a major venue for sporting and entertainment events.

Projects of this nature create opportunities across construction, engineering, stadium operations, security, hospitality, technology, event management and facilities management.

NEOM Port : T1 Container Terminal

NEOM is also developing major logistics infrastructure to support the region's future economy.

The T1 Container Terminal at the Port of NEOM is scheduled to launch in 2026, with its first full year of operations planned for 2027. The terminal is designed with a 900 metre quay wall and advanced automated cargo handling systems.

This development highlights the growing demand for talent in logistics, supply chain, maritime operations, automation, engineering, technology and industrial services.

Renewable Energy Infrastructure in NEOM

NEOM's development also includes significant renewable energy infrastructure.

ENOWA identifies more than 6.5 GW of solar farms targeted to become operational in 2026.

The development of large scale renewable infrastructure requires specialist expertise across electrical engineering, renewable energy, construction, commissioning, operations and maintenance, project management and digital systems.

PlayMaker Studios : Qiddiya

Saudi Arabia's entertainment ambitions extend beyond theme parks and sporting venues.

Qiddiya's PlayMaker Studios is expanding its film production infrastructure, with two additional soundstages scheduled for completion in 2026. The development is also planned to expand into post production, VFX, volumetric and music facilities.

This creates demand for specialist talent across media production, VFX, technology, engineering, studio operations and creative services.

King Khalid International Airport Development : Riyadh

Riyadh's aviation infrastructure is also undergoing major development. In January 2026, the development of International Terminals 1 and 2 at King Khalid International Airport was officially completed, with Terminal 2 opened as part of the project.

The two terminals' combined capacity increased to approximately 14 million passengers annually, compared with around 6 million previously.

The airport's wider operational transformation is also designed to increase overall terminal capacity as Riyadh's passenger traffic continues to grow.

What Does This Mean for Saudi Arabia's Workforce?

The completion and operationalization of these projects will shift workforce demand from primarily construction and project delivery toward operations, maintenance, hospitality, technology, logistics, engineering and customer facing roles.

·        Engineering & technical specialists

·        Construction and project management

·        Facilities management

·        Hospitality and tourism

·        Logistics and supply chain

·        Renewable energy

·        IT and digital transformation

·        Operations and maintenance

·        Health, safety and environment

·        Security and support services

·        Event and entertainment management

·        Finance, HR and administration

This transition is particularly significant for organizations that require flexible workforce models. Companies operating large scale projects may need a combination of permanent recruitment, contract staffing, project based workforce solutions, outsourcing, payroll and mobilization services.

2026 represents an important stage in Saudi Arabia's transformation, with several major projects moving from construction and development into opening, commissioning and operational phases.

The impact extends beyond the physical completion of buildings and infrastructure. As these destinations become operational, they will require professionals to manage, maintain and deliver the services that bring them to life.

For businesses operating in Saudi Arabia, this creates both opportunities and workforce challenges. Access to the right talent, combined with efficient recruitment, outsourcing and workforce management solutions, will be increasingly important as the Kingdom's project pipeline continues to develop.

At Fircroft, we support organizations across Saudi Arabia with recruitment, outsourcing, contract staffing, project based workforce solutions, mobilization and other talent management services, helping businesses build the teams required to deliver major projects and operate them successfully.