Giga Projects in Saudi Arabia — Investment and Vendor Opportunities

Saudi Arabia's giga projects are a group of large-scale development initiatives funded primarily by the Public Investment Fund (PIF) and aligned with Vision 2030. They are not traditional infrastructure projects. Each is a new economic zone, tourism destination, or urban development program designed to create entire sectors from scratch — entertainment, luxury tourism, cultural heritage, and smart cities.

As of 2026, five giga projects are in active development: NEOM, Qiddiya, the Red Sea Project, Amaala, and Diriyah Gate. Each has a different sector focus, a different investment profile, and different requirements for foreign companies entering as investors, contractors, or vendors.

This article covers what each project is, what sectors it opens, and what a foreign company needs to enter — including the MISA investment license, commercial registration, and vendor qualification steps.

NEOM is a planned urban and industrial development covering 26,500 square kilometers in the northwest of Saudi Arabia, in the Tabuk region. It is designed around several sub-projects:

•  THE LINE: a linear city 170 kilometers long, zero cars, zero streets, targeting 9 million residents by 2030

•  OXAGON: an industrial and innovation complex on the Red Sea, focused on manufacturing, logistics, and clean energy

•  SINDALAH: a yacht and maritime tourism island in the Gulf of Aqaba

•  TROJENA: a mountain tourism and ski resort destination in the highlands of Tabuk

For foreign companies, NEOM's procurement and vendor qualification is managed separately from the standard MISA process. Companies supplying goods, technology, or services to NEOM must register through NEOM's supplier portal (neom.com/en-gb/suppliers) in addition to holding a valid Saudi commercial registration.

Sectors with active procurement needs in NEOM include: technology and AI, construction and engineering, renewable energy, logistics and supply chain, healthcare, and hospitality. Foreign companies setting up a Saudi entity to serve NEOM follow the standard 23-step business setup path — MISA license, commercial registration, and government platform activation — before applying for vendor status.

Qiddiya is a 366-square-kilometer entertainment and sports city being built 40 kilometers west of Riyadh. The project is managed by Qiddiya Investment Company, a PIF subsidiary. It targets opening in phases from 2026 onward.

•  Six main districts: theme parks, sports, arts and culture, motion and mobility, nature and environment, gaming and esports

•  Anchor attractions: Six Flags theme park, Formula 1 circuit, esports arena

•  Projected capacity: 1.5 million visitors per day at full operation

For foreign investors and operators, Qiddiya has opened a number of licensing categories that did not previously exist in Saudi Arabia: entertainment venue operators, theme park management, esports platform operators, and sports event management companies. All are eligible for 100% foreign ownership under the current MISA investment framework.

Vendor registration for Qiddiya is managed through Qiddiya Investment Company's procurement process. A valid Saudi commercial registration is required before submitting a vendor application. See our business setup service for the full setup path, and our GRO services for government vendor qualification via Etimad.

The Red Sea Project covers 28,000 square kilometers of coastline along the Red Sea, including 90 islands, four mountain sites, and two ancient lava fields. It is managed by Red Sea Global, a PIF subsidiary, and targets 1 million visitors annually by 2030.

•  Phase 1: Shura Island — hotels, beach resorts, marina, and golf courses, with some elements already open

•  Conservation mandate: 75% of the area designated as protected nature reserve

•  Zero single-use plastic policy across the entire destination

The Red Sea Project has specific licensing requirements for foreign companies entering the hospitality and tourism sector. Hotel management companies, food and beverage operators, and eco-tourism service providers must hold a MISA investment license with the relevant activity classification before applying for a hospitality license from the Saudi Tourism Authority.

Construction and engineering companies working on the project go through Red Sea Global's contractor qualification process. Foreign engineering firms may need a license from the Saudi Council of Engineers in addition to the standard commercial registration. See our tourism sector guide for the full sector licensing path.

Amaala is a 4,155-square-kilometer wellness and luxury tourism destination on the northwest coast of Saudi Arabia, adjacent to the Red Sea Project. It is managed by Red Sea Global and targets a different market segment: ultra-high-net-worth visitors focused on health, wellness, and cultural immersion.

•  Three communities: Triple Bay (wellness), The Coastal Development (arts and culture), and the Marina Community

•  Target: 2,500 hotel rooms across 25 hotels when complete

•  Key sectors: medical wellness, sports performance, holistic health, arts and culture

Foreign companies entering Amaala as hotel operators, wellness center managers, or cultural venue operators follow the same MISA licensing path as the Red Sea Project. The key difference is the wellness sector — medical wellness facilities require coordination with the Saudi Ministry of Health for operational licensing in addition to the standard MISA license.

Diriyah Gate is a cultural and heritage development project centered on the At-Turaif district in Diriyah, which was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2010. It is managed by Diriyah Gate Development Authority (DGDA), a direct report to Saudi Vision 2030. The project aims to turn Diriyah into a permanent cultural capital of the Kingdom.

•  Total area: 14 square kilometers surrounding the At-Turaif UNESCO site

•  Components: museums, cultural institutes, hotels, restaurants, retail, and residential

•  Bujairi Terrace is already operational — the first hospitality district to open

Diriyah offers investment opportunities across hospitality, cultural institutions, retail, food and beverage, and heritage tourism. Unlike other giga projects, Diriyah has an active commercial district already receiving visitors, which means some vendor and operator contracts are already in procurement.

Foreign companies operating in Diriyah need a Saudi commercial registration and a MISA investment license. Cultural and museum-related activities may require additional approvals from the Ministry of Culture. See our free zones guide for information on whether a standard LLC or a specialized license structure is more appropriate for your activity.

Regardless of which giga project you are targeting, the entry path follows the same sequence:

Use our setup cost calculator for a full cost estimate including MISA license, CR fees, and Motaded service fees.

Multinational companies with a Regional Headquarters (RHQ) in Riyadh get access to Saudi government procurement including projects managed by PIF subsidiaries. If your company is entering Saudi Arabia to serve multiple giga projects, the RHQ structure may be more appropriate than a standard LLC.

The RHQ program provides a 15-year tax exemption (0% corporate income tax, 0% withholding tax) and streamlined MISA licensing. See our GRO services for RHQ qualification and government vendor registration via Etimad platform.

Also Read: Business Setup in Saudi Arabia | GRO Services | Tourism Sector Guide