Saudi Arabia’s gigaproject boom is creating vast opportunities – and new risks. This MEED Live broadcast explores how to navigate them
🌐 Webinar: MEED in association with HKA Webinar on Saudi Gigaprojects 2026 & Beyond
🗓 Tuesday 31 March | 🕐 1:00 GST | Register now
As Saudi Arabia’s gigaprojects move from vision to delivery, the kingdom’s projects market continues to evolve at an unprecedented pace. Billions of dollars’ worth of contracts are being awarded across infrastructure, real estate, tourism and critical industries, creating huge opportunities — but also new layers of complexity.
This MEED Live broadcast, in association with HKA, brings together market intelligence and practical expertise to help project stakeholders understand and navigate the risks in this dynamic landscape.
The session will open with Ed James, MEED’s head of content and research, who will deliver a comprehensive 30-minute outlook on Saudi Arabia’s gigaprojects and beyond. Drawing on MEED’s proprietary data and insights, Ed will highlight the scale of opportunity, sectoral trends and the finance shifts shaping the region’s project pipeline.
Following the outlook, Ed will host an in-depth fireside chat with Haroon Niazi, partner at HKA, focusing on the critical theme of contractual risk management. In a market defined by rapid delivery schedules, shifting finance conditions and complex stakeholder ecosystems, Haroon will share strategies for mitigating disputes, safeguarding margins, and building resilient contracts that can withstand uncertainty.
The broadcast will conclude with a live Q&A session, giving the audience the opportunity to engage directly with Ed and Haroon, and to take away actionable insights that will support their involvement in Saudi Arabia’s gigaprojects.
Hosted by: Edward James, head of content and analysis at MEED
A well-known and respected thought leader in Mena affairs, Edward James has been with MEED for more than 19 years, working as a researcher, consultant and content director. Today he heads up all content and research produced by the MEED group. His specific areas of expertise are construction, hydrocarbons, power and water, and the petrochemicals market. He is considered one of the world’s foremost experts on the Mena projects market. He is a regular guest commentator on Middle East issues for news channels such as the BBC, CNN and ABC News and is a regular speaker at events in the region.
Haroon Niazi, partner, construction claims and expert services lead, International·HKA
Haroon is a dual-qualified Chartered Quantity Surveyor (FRICS) and barrister with over 18 years of experience in the construction industry. He leads HKA’s Construction Claims and Expert Services Line across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa, overseeing a team of more than 200 consultants with responsibility for strategy and delivering the growth plan. His practice focuses on the resolution of complex and high-value construction disputes. He has been appointed as a quantum expert and has delivered expert testimony in international arbitration and litigation, including in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Haroon is known for his ability to analyse, quantify, and communicate the financial aspects of construction claims with clarity and independence.
