day event dubbed "Future Makkah" to support the SR100 billion large-scale development projects in Makkah Region will start tomorrow (Sunday) at the Jeddah Centre for Forums and Events. The Makkah International Urban & Infrastructure Development Event, which has been established to provide a dedicated business-to-business networking platform that supports public and private investment initiatives in the Makkah Region, will feature an exhibition, forum, and in-depth workshop. Held under the patronage of Prince Khalid Al-Faisal Bin Abdulaziz, Governor of Makkah Region, the forum will gather key stakeholders of ongoing development activities across the Makkah Region to share ideas, gain exclusive insights about upcoming government expenditure plans and carve out strategies to optimize the business potential of Makkah Development Plan. The high-profile conference will discuss opportunities and challenges in key areas such as hospitality and tourism development, modernization plans, utility requirements of the region, land development, financing prospects, demand for health services and equipment, and transport development. The event's exhibition segment will host more than 5,000 local, regional and international investors, high net-worth individuals, government and municipality companies, construction, infrastructure and utility companies. Future Makkah will also host an interactive post-conference workshop. "Structuring profitable and sustainable PPP projects within the Kingdom" which will enable delegates to harness the financial, intellectual and influential powers of the public and private sectors to sustain the country's long-term economic growth. Saudi Arabia has recently unveiled the Makkah Development Plan that will allocate over SR100 billion for projects encompassing the infrastructure, utilities, investment, financing, real estate and tourism sectors. The Plan has created an overwhelming demand for large-scale projects across a wide range of industries, opening up major opportunities for local, regional and international developers, investors, financiers, contractors, architects, designers and infrastructure operators looking to expand their business interests in the Kingdom.Hussain Al Harithy from National Exhibitions Company, which is co-organizing the event along with IIR Middle East, said: "The Makkah Development Plan is transforming Makkah into one of the most exciting business destinations in the Middle East with large-scale projects worth over SR100 billion being undertaken. Investors, contractors, developers and other business organizations are now looking to capitalize on the government's ambitious spending plans, making Future Makkah the definitive venue to gain direct access to high-profile projects and strike lucrative business deals in the Makkah Region. The government's development strategy for the Makkah Region is expected to gain more momentum moving forward and Future Makkah will certainly be a critically important vehicle to gain strategic insight and have a better understanding of the unique demands and emerging opportunities within the region's business and investment landscape." Sheikh Abdul Rahman A. Fakieh, Chairman of the Board, Jabal Omar Development Co., one of the platinum sponsors of the event, said: "We are now pursuing development projects that consist of 6-star, 5-star, 4-star and 3-star hotels, residential villas, and multi-story commercial facilities that will cater to the increasing number of pilgrims and Umrah performers coming to Makkah. We are therefore pleased to serve as sponsors of Future Makkah, which reaffirms the company's support to the Makkah Development Plan and underlines our commitment to help sustain the economic upswing of the country." Other platinum sponsors are Dyafat Albalad Alameen and Elaf Group, with AECOM as silver sponsor. Future Makkah, which will conclude on June 21, is open from 11 A.M. to 9 P.M. daily.
