
Exclusive Interview: Ladun Real Estate Expands into Hospitality at RFF
Mohammed Abdul-Latif Hajar, Director of Studies and Design at Ladun, emphasized the company's deep-rooted presence in Saudi Arabia's real estate sector. Speaking at the Real Estate Future Forum 2025, he highlighted Ladun's 50-year legacy in property development across multiple sectors. Diverse Real Estate Portfolio
Ladun operates in three key sectors, focusing on affordable housing, raw land development, and real estate asset management. 'We engage in affordable housing projects in partnership with the National Housing Company and the Ministry of Housing,' Hajar said. 'Our largest projects, Jawharat Al-Rusaifah and Fenan in Makkah, include approximately 2,700 residential units.'
The company is also active in raw land development. 'We developed Al-Aseeli suburb in Makkah, covering three million square meters, and Al-Rimal in Riyadh, spanning 500,000 square meters,' he explained. The third sector involves managing residential compounds, each containing around 70 to 80 villas. 'We expanded into comprehensive development, selling 22 fully finished villas last year,' he added. Hospitality Expansion with Cheval Ladun Living
Ladun is entering the hospitality sector with Cheval Ladun Living, a luxury residential tower on King Fahd Road. 'This marks Cheval's debut in Saudi Arabia, introducing a five-star luxury serviced apartment concept,' Hajar revealed. The tower will house 124 premium units, offering one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartments.
'What sets this project apart is its spacious design, starting at 100 square meters for a one-bedroom unit,' he emphasized. 'Each unit is fully furnished with a complete kitchen, providing a permanent residence experience in an exclusive setting.' Ladun aims to complete the project by 2027, targeting long-term rentals. 'Every unit includes at least one balcony, enhancing quality of life and aligning with Saudi Vision 2030,' Hajar noted. Supporting Saudi Vision 2030
Ladun's hospitality expansion aligns with the Kingdom's vision for economic diversification and tourism growth. 'Our participation in RFF 2025 reaffirms our commitment to Saudi Arabia's development goals,' Hajar stated. 'With Expo 2030 and the FIFA World Cup 2034 approaching, we are preparing to expand this model nationwide.'
Ladun continues contributing to Vision 2030's objectives, transitioning from affordable housing to tourism-driven developments. 'We have long supported Saudi Arabia's progress, and now we are entering hospitality to further enhance the nation's economic transformation,' Hajar concluded.
Short link :
Post Views: 18
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Saudi Gazette
an hour ago
- Saudi Gazette
Tourism Ministry: Saudi Arabia tops 100 million visitors for second year in a row in 2024
Saudi Gazette report RIYADH — Saudi Arabia welcomed around 116 million domestic and foreign tourists in 2024, and this figure marks an increase of six percent compared to 2023, according to the Ministry of Tourism. In its 2024 Annual Statistical Report on Saudi Arabia's tourism sector, released on Sunday, the ministry stated that total tourism spending for domestic and inbound travel during the last year reached approximately SR284 billion, reflecting an 11 percent year-over-year growth. The ministry noted that Saudi Arabia recorded its highest-ever number of inbound tourists, with approximately 30 million visitors in 2024, marking an 8 percent rise compared to 2023. Inbound tourism spending in 2024 totaled SR168.5 billion, up 19 percent from the previous year. Domestic tourism also experienced solid growth with 86.2 million domestic tourists in 2024, marking a five percent increase compared to 2023. Moreover, domestic tourism spending reached SR115.3 billion in 2024. The ministry's annual report highlighted key indicators of tourism activity and underscored the sector's continued growth following the significant progress made in 2023. Minister of Tourism Ahmed Al-Khateeb stated that the strong performance reflected in the 2024 report was achieved through the guidance and support of the Kingdom's leadership. He highlighted that tourism has become a key enabler of Saudi Vision 2030, with the report shedding light on the sector's accelerated growth, driven by the efforts of the ministry and all stakeholders in Saudi Arabia's tourism ecosystem. The ministry invited investors and stakeholders to view the full 2024 Annual Statistical Report, available on its official website.


Arab News
4 hours ago
- Arab News
Gulf visitor spending to hit $224bn by 2034, GCC-Stat says
RIYADH: Visitor spending in Gulf Cooperation Council nations is projected to reach $223.7 billion by 2034, driven by economic diversification, mega-projects, infrastructure upgrades, and relaxed visa policies, new data showed. According to the GCC Statistical Center, as reported by Emirates News Agency – WAM, inbound visitor spending is expected to contribute 13.4 percent to the region's total exports — underscoring tourism's growing role in Gulf economies seeking to reduce dependence on oil. This comes as GCC countries, led by Saudi Arabia, ramp up efforts to diversify their economies by investing in tourism. Central to Saudi Vision 2030 is a goal to raise tourism's share of gross domestic product from 3 to 10 percent and attract 150 million annual visits, with mega-projects like NEOM spearheading the shift. The WAM report stated: 'The centre also indicated that GCC countries are achieving steady progress in many tourism-related indicators.' It added: 'The data demonstrate that total international visitor spending in GCC countries amounted to $135.5 billion in 2023, with a 28.9 percent increase compared to the figures recorded in 2019.' GCC countries also lead the Middle East and North Africa region in safety and security, outperforming the regional average of 5.86 points on a scale of 1 to 7. Additionally, all six Gulf states rank among the top Arab nations in terms of passport power, reinforcing their global travel competitiveness. The findings underscored the GCC's growing appeal as a premier tourism and business destination. This tourism boom aligns with broader economic diversification plans as oil-reliant nations shift their focus toward hospitality, entertainment, and business travel. Additionally, more flexible visa policies and improved infrastructure — such as modern airports and strong safety standards — are helping the region gradually become more attractive to international tourists, offering an alternative to traditional destinations like Europe and Asia. The GCC's geographic advantage as a bridge between East and West, coupled with investments in aviation, has turned the region into a global transit and tourism hotspot. All GCC nations are collectively transforming into a global tourism powerhouse, each leveraging unique strengths under ambitious national strategies. According to a report by consultancy firm Roland Berger, Saudi Arabia leads with Vision 2030, combining religious pilgrimage with giga-projects like NEOM. The UAE counters with its Tourism Strategy 2031, doubling down on its established formula of luxury experiences and cultural fusion, aiming for 40 million hotel guests. Qatar, building on its World Cup, is refining its urban tourism appeal, while Oman bets on natural beauty to attract 11 million annual visitors. Even smaller players like Bahrain and Kuwait are making strategic moves — Bahrain by leveraging Formula 1 to boost leisure tourism and Kuwait through investments in entertainment infrastructure.


Arab News
18 hours ago
- Arab News
Saudi Arabia's economic resilience shines in Q1 2025
According to estimates by the General Authority for Statistics, Saudi Arabia's real gross domestic product grew by 3.4 percent in the first quarter of 2025 compared to the same period in 2024. On a seasonally adjusted basis, real GDP rose by 1.1 percent compared to the fourth quarter of 2024. Non-oil activities grew by 4.9 percent year-on-year and 1 percent quarter-on-quarter. Government activities expanded by 3.2 percent year-on-year and 5.5 percent quarter-on-quarter. In contrast, oil activities declined by 0.5 percent year-on-year and 1.2 percent from the previous quarter. Despite the drop in oil activities, most economic sectors recorded annual growth. For example, wholesale and retail trade, along with restaurants and hotels, recorded the highest growth among non-oil sectors in Q1 2025, rising by 8.4 percent year-on-year and 7 percent quarter-on-quarter. This was followed by transport, storage, and communication activities, which expanded by 6 percent year-on-year and 1.8 percent quarter-on-quarter. Additionally, financial, insurance and business services grew by 5.5 percent compared to the same quarter last year, despite a slight quarter-on-quarter decline of 1 percent. The growth in non-oil activities aligns with Saudi Vision 2030, which aims to boost non-oil revenues and diversify the economy to offset potential declines in oil income due to global price volatility or shifts in demand — especially in light of voluntary and mandatory production cuts by OPEC+. As a result of government initiatives, non-oil activities now account for 53.2 percent of GDP, marking a significant step toward achieving the country's diversification goals. The Kingdom's real GDP growth in Q1 2025 was primarily driven by strong non-oil activities, including government-led projects, despite a decline in the oil sector Government activities are significantly contributing to the Kingdom's GDP growth through both direct economic output and broader support. For example, gross fixed capital formation rose by 8.5 percent year-over-year and 7.3 percent quarter-on-quarter, while government final consumption expenditure increased by 5.2 percent year-over-year and 4.5 percent quarter-on-quarter. Meanwhile, private final consumption expenditure grew by 4.5 percent year-over-year but declined by 1.7 percent quarter-on-quarter. In trade, imports rose by 2.7 percent year-over-year but fell by 10 percent quarter-on-quarter. Exports, on the other hand, increased by 1.5 percent year-over-year and surged by 12.3 percent quarter-on-quarter. The rise in fixed capital formation played a key role in supporting the Kingdom's economic performance in Q1 2025, aligning with the goals of Vision 2030 for economic diversification. This growth reflects the government's continued investment in major infrastructure and development projects tied to Vision 2030, including New Murabba, Rua Al-Madinah, Soudah Peaks and other transformative ventures. In conclusion, the Kingdom's real GDP growth in Q1 2025 was primarily driven by strong non-oil activities, including government-led projects, despite a decline in the oil sector. This increase highlights the Kingdom's economic resilience and adaptability amid global declines in oil prices and production. It also reflects the dynamism of the evolving economic landscape, propelled by momentum in non-oil sectors and supported by prudent government policies and strategic investments. Ultimately, this growth underscores steady progress toward achieving Vision 2030 objectives. Finally, it demonstrates the economy's agility in responding to global challenges and its ability to maintain balanced growth, which is essential for sustainable prosperity in the coming quarters. • Talat Zaki Hafiz is an economist and financial analyst. X: @TalatHafiz