The New Frontier for Infrastructure Professionals: Saudi Arabia's Rising Appeal

In my two decades of Recruitment and Search within the Infrastructure & Real Assets sectors, I've witnessed a fascinating cycle of preferred international destinations for expat professionals. Over the years, Australia had its moment in the early 2000s, Dubai shone in the mid-2000s, the US was the hotspot in the 2010s, whilst Qatar, Hong Kong and Singapore made their mark somewhere in between. One destination conspicuously absent from this list, until now, is the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

A significant shift has taken place in this previously held view, and we've successfully made a series of appointments in the past year or so of individuals leaving the UK, UAE, Australia, and other locations to embark on exciting opportunities in Saudi Arabia. So, what has changed, and why is Saudi Arabia now on the radar of global Infrastructure professionals?

The Evolution of Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia has undergone a significant transformation in recent years. The Kingdom has become more liberal, exemplified by the progressive improvements in the rights of women and the opening up of new opportunities. Saudi Arabia's involvement in hosting major sporting events has also made the country more prominent on the global stage, making it increasingly appealing to a Western audience.

Infrastructure Investment - Vision 2030

At the same time, the Kingdom's Vision 2030 represents a shining beacon in the global infrastructure space. Saudi Arabia is making significant investments in the creation of world-leading new sustainable cities, cutting-edge transport systems, and ground-breaking infrastructure projects, including NEOM. The scale of ambition in these initiatives is incredible - for example NEOM will be 33 times the size of New York City.

Quality of Life

While Saudi Arabia may still have some way to go to compete with the wealth of leisure, culinary, and retail options offered by cities like Dubai, it has made significant progress. World-class hotel and restaurant groups such as IHG, Nobu and Roka continue to expand their footprint in the Kingdom, whilst there has also been significant investment in Healthcare & Education.

Naturally, it's essential to acknowledge that challenges persist, especially when adapting to a different cultural setting, alongside the complexities of managing mega-projects of the scale we are currently witnessing. However, the overall sentiment from extensive interactions with clients and candidates on the ground is one of optimism and opportunity. Feedback consistently highlights the enjoyment of life in Saudi Arabia, often challenging commonly held misconceptions.

If you are a client seeking to appoint Senior Infrastructure professionals or an Infrastructure professional contemplating new horizons in Saudi Arabia within Novare's core areas (Funding & Finance, Capital Projects Advisory, Arbitration & Litigation, and Strategic Asset Management), please do not hesitate to make contact for a confidential discussion.

About Novare:

Novare is a boutique Executive Search business, specialising in Infrastructure & Real Assets. We work closely with Advisors, Owners & Investors to deliver Executive Search services and Strategic Advice. Founded in 2014, we have delivered 300+ mandates in over 20 countries around the world for our clients.