Registration & Networking

Delegate registration and networking
Registration, snacks and networking outside the main hall.

Introduction

MC event introduction and welcome
Welcome to the 2025 World Cup Build Summit KSA, event mechanics and what’s lined up for the day.

Jason Saundalkar

Welcome Speech
Big Project Middle East’s Head of Content Jason Saundalkar welcomes speakers and delegates to the summit and discusses the event’s key themes and focuses.

Jason Saundalkar, Head of Content at Big Project Middle East

Ammar Hina

Keynote address
Designing Football Stadiums for Billions on Screens

To ensure sporting events can be enjoyed by the vast majority of fans who watch games on screens around the world, stadiums (new and old) must be able to accommodate the various technical needs of broadcasters. Broadcast experts should be bought into stadium projects early in the development lifecycle, so they can advise on technical needs and specifications, so they can be integrated into a venue’s design and avoid risks and the need for last minute upgrades.

Ammar Hina, Broadcast TV Production Consultant / independent consultant, Colorbars Consultancy FZ-LLC

Panel Discussion One

State of the Art Stadiums

Hosting the Saudi Arabia FIFA World Cup 2034 tournament calls for the upgrade of existing stadiums, as well as the design and development of all venues in the Kingdom. Whether reinvigorated or all-new, the stadiums will have to boast incredible designs, be delivered sustainably, have the ability to accommodate several thousand fans, boast top-notch facilities, and integrate well with the surrounding areas. This panel discussion will share insights on:

• What are some of the priorities (architectural, engineering, sustainable and others) that new stadiums should be designed and built around? How can consistency of experience be secured considering that multiple stadiums across different cities are involved in the tournament, and will likely be delivered by several different construction partners?
• What are the key fan experience markers stadiums should be designed to provide fans with? How can elements such as stadium entry, exit, and emergencies be addressed to a world class standard?
• While dates have yet to be announced for the football tournament, what level of environmental comfort should stadiums be designed and built around?
• Depending on the state of existing stadiums, refurbishment works have the potential to be more complex and time consuming than new builds. What are the major challenges stakeholders could face on these stadiums, and how can they be successfully overcome?
• What are the critical needs from the supply chain in the Kingdom to successfully deliver the refurbishments and new builds considering a number of projects are expected to be fast-tracked and have a hard deadline?
• What considerations should fan zones be designed and built around so that they offer the best experience to fans and elevate the overall atmosphere of the event?
• What accessibility features should stadiums offer, so that they are inclusive and usable by people of determination?
• What role can technology such as Digital Twins play in the design, delivery and operation of stadiums? What benefits and challenges can developers, construction firms and operators expect from leveraging this technology?

Moderator

Brad Sandford, Partner, Head of International Project Finance, Trowers & Hamlins LLP

Speakers

Clarke Morton-Shepherd, Head of Markets – KSA & Bahrain, JLL

Fernando Mario Rial Ponce, Studio Design Director, KEO International Consultants

Gabriel Olufemi, Managing Partner, Dentons & Co

Hatim Morsy Fahmy, Program Director & Stadium and Venues Consultant

Peter Chipchase, Senior Technical Director, WSP

Tamim El Abed, Project Director, Jacobs

Presentation

Building Faster, Smarter, and Predictably: The Digital Engine Behind World Cup-Scale Delivery
As Saudi Arabia prepares for FIFA World Cup 2034, the stakes for precision, speed, and cost control have never been higher. Mega-event programmes demand more than traditional project management – they require data-driven construction intelligence that connects estimating, planning, cost control, procurement, and financial governance into one integrated ecosystem.
This session will reveal how construction technologies create a unified digital workflow that empowers contractors to deliver giga-projects on budget, on schedule and at global best-practice standards.

Fady Kobersy, Sales Director – MENA, RIB Software

Networking

Coffee break

Break for coffee and networking.

Panel Discussion Two

World Class Mobility & Hospitality

Supporting infrastructure is vital to ensuring the success of the Saudi Arabia FIFA World Cup 2034; in particular, the Kingdom will require sophisticated and interconnected transportation systems, as well as a mix of hospitality options in every city that the tournament will take place in. While cities such as Riyadh, Jeddah and others have a strong base of existing infrastructure to build on, newer cities such as NEOM may require a ground-up approach and deeper investments and development. This panel discussion will cover:

• From a hospitality standpoint, how many new rooms do the cities hosting the tournament (Riyadh, Jeddah, Al Khobar, Abha, NEOM) need to develop to meet the needs of fans? How can the Kingdom best predict appetite for economy, midscale, upscale and luxury offerings?
• In cases where a city may not see as many tourists post event and thus may not warrant newly built hospitality offerings, what alternatives exist for the Kingdom?
• What are the infrastructure needs in terms of mobility and transportation that the Kingdom must develop in the five cities hosting the tournament? How can all these transportation systems be integrated effectively, and what technology is needed to make these solutions as accessible as possible to fans/general tourists?
• Apart from investing into transportation infrastructure, what options do officials have in order to manage the usage of roads and rail systems during the tournament? How can this infrastructure be best used?
• What is the status of airports in cities such as Jeddah, Al Khobar, Abha and NEOM? What investments are needed to enable them to cope with increased travel activity?
• What infrastructure from other global events taking place in the Kingdom ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2034 – such as EXPO 2030 Riyadh – can be re-used for the tournament without heavy investment?

Moderator

Ermis Marques, MD KSA & ME Director of Strategy, Zutari

Speakers

Elmer Moncada, Head of Electrical Engineering, Dar Engineering

Hrvoje Cindrić, Global Urban Strategies Lead, Buro Happold

Ian Sinclair, Partner & Head of Programs KSA, Knight Frank

Presentation

Paving the Way: The Role of Digital Twins in Delivering the Saudi 2034 FIFA World Cup
Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 is set to transform the Kingdom, with ambitious plans to host global events like the World Expo and the FIFA World Cup. These projects demand unprecedented speed, accuracy, and sustainability in construction. This presentation will explore how Trimble’s digital twin solutions and connected construction workflows are essential for meeting these challenges.

We’ll delve into real-world case studies from around the globe, highlighting how Trimble’s technology, including Tekla Structures and Trimble Connect, helped teams overcome complexity in projects like World Expo 2020 pavilions and several stadiums around the world. The presentation will cover how these technologies enable seamless collaboration, streamline data from design to fabrication, and ultimately, deliver complex structures on time and within budget, paving the way for a digitized future of construction in the Kingdom.

Tareq Al-Masri, Director of Sales, Trimble Solutions Middle East

Networking

Lunch
One hour break for buffet lunch and networking.

Panel Discussion Three

Meeting World Cup 2034 Deadlines Sustainably

As part of its extensive Saudi Vision 2030 agenda, the Kingdom has embarked on a transformation journey that has seen several giga projects taking shape within its borders. In addition, the Kingdom is hosting Riyadh EXPO 2030 along with the Saudi Arabia FIFA World Cup 2034 tournament within the next 10 years – both events will see the Kingdom undertake sizeable development projects. With all these projects being undertaken simultaneously and fixed deadlines, construction stakeholders potentially face several supply chain challenges. This panel discussion will highlight:

• Overarching sustainable principals that all builds pertaining to the tournament should adhere to, in support of the sustainable goals of Vision 2030
• An overview of the supply chain needed to successfully deliver all the construction works related to the tournament (talent, contractors, materials etc), and where major gaps exist or will exist as the event’s deadline approaches?
• Sustainable materials that can be sourced from within the region for stadiums and infrastructure to reduce the embodied carbon in these projects?
• The role 3D printing, modular construction, and the use of robotics & automation can play to ensure that FIFA World Cup 2034 related projects are delivered on time and on budget, and to a high standard of quality
• How can the Kingdom best use the massive amounts of C&D waste that will be generated as construction ramps up ahead of the tournament?

Moderator

Dr. Kam Al-Mazrui, Director Sports and Events, Mott MacDonald

Speakers

Ayo Ajayi, Director, WT Partnership

Engi Jaber, +impact – Associate Partner, Sustainability and Head of Climatize, Climatize, part of +impact

Haytham Ayoub, Principal Sustainability Consultant, Cundall

Julian Haslam-Jones, Senior Director, Alvarez & Marsal

Mark Cameron, Principal, HKA

Paul Wallett, Regional Director, Trimble Solutions Middle East

Presentation

Building The Future of Modern KSA And Its Stadiums With Light And Sustainable Systems
Early integration of Saint-Gobain’s locally produced, multi-brand systems and products enables lighter, faster, and more sustainable stadium construction, reducing structural load, accelerating execution, controlling cost, and ensuring long-term durability and adaptability beyond major events.

Michel AbouJamra, Specification Manager, Saint-Gobain

Event Wrap-up

MC closing remarks
Thank you for attending the World Cup Build Summit KSA.