Leading real estate, design, public sector, and technology experts will explore the future of work in Riyadh when the ORGATEC WORKSPACE Summit debuts as the flagship feature of ORGATEC WORKSPACE Saudi Arabia, the Kingdom’s first dedicated trade fair for workplace, office design, and hybrid working solutions. Running from 16 – 18 September 2025 at the Riyadh Front Exhibition & Conference Centre, the Summit will gather more than 50 influential speakers from around the globe to explore the ideas, technologies, and strategies transforming modern workplaces.
Across three days, the free-to-attend conference will examine pressing themes for businesses and professionals. Sessions will explore how Saudi cultural identity is shaping workplace design, the role of lighting in supporting wellness and performance, strategies that align corporate real estate with business growth, the dynamics of multigenerational offices, and visions for the 2035 workplace. Each discussion is designed to spark debate, share practical insights, and inspire innovative approaches to creating environments where people and organizations thrive.
Evan Schiff, Portfolio Director at Summit organizer dmg events, described the forum as the show’s intellectual heart. “The Summit is where ideas and innovation meet,” he said. “By connecting international providers with Saudi Arabia’s fast-growing market, we are enabling conversations that will translate into smarter, more agile, and more sustainable workplaces.”
Strategic focus on corporate real estate alignment
Among programme highlights will be a focus talk on ‘Workplace Strategy & Corporate Real Estate – Aligning Space with Performance and Growth.’ Featuring Ian DS Sinclair, Partner & Head of Programmes at Knight Frank MENA, and Nadim Farah, Head of Corporate Real Estate, Saudi Arabia at Turner & Townsend, the session will examine how organizations are rethinking physical space as a driver of efficiency, agility, and long-term value.
Sinclair emphasized the impact of rapid technological disruption on the future of work. “AI and technological advancement are reshaping the way we work,” he said. “To remain competitive, organizations must align their workplaces with this revolution, creating environments that support people’s growth while driving efficiency and effectiveness.”
Farah noted that workplace strategy has become a critical business lever. “By treating space as a strategic asset, companies can boost efficiency, enable agility, and deliver long-term value,” she said. “Saudi Arabia’s giga-projects and mega-developments are transforming expectations for workplace design. They are driving demand for flexible, sustainable, and data-informed solutions that support evolving business needs.”
Exhibition showcases international innovation
The Summit sits within a broader exhibition that will host more than 100 international and regional exhibitors from 14 countries. Organized by dmg events in partnership with Koelnmesse, the force behind Cologne’s world-leading ORGATEC trade fair, the exhibition will showcase the latest in office furnishings, hybrid working solutions, and technology-driven design.
The event’s arrival in Riyadh comes at a pivotal moment. With more than US$1.7 trillion in active construction projects and the capital’s office space forecast to grow by one million square metres by 2026, demand for innovative workplace solutions is expanding. Saudi Arabia’s preparation to host Expo 2030 and the 2034 FIFA World Cup is also accelerating investment in commercial real estate, creating opportunities for workplace innovation.
The population growth in Riyadh alone will see 2.5 million more people in the city by 2030, requiring organizations to recognize how resources are delivered efficiently and effectively. Thomas Postert, Director of ORGATEC WORKSPACE Saudi Arabia at Koelnmesse GmbH, noted that the Summit will provide “a front-row seat to the ideas shaping the future – and a platform where global expertise meets local ambition.”
