Saudi Arabia’s construction sector, which accounts for up to 7% of the GDP, is considered the Kingdom’s second-largest non-oil sector and one of its largest employers in the country. Since the rollout of Vision 2030, the Saudi construction sector has grown by leaps and bounds, positioning the country as a key region of focus for international business expansion.
To support the ongoing growth of Saudi construction, AstroLabs, the Gulf’s leading business expansion platform, has been committed to facilitating the expansion of a growing number of global businesses to the Kingdom. By doing so, AstroLabs aims to further consolidate the country’s rising advantage as one of the world’s largest construction sites.
Below are some of the success stories of the construction companies that AstroLabs helped set root in Saudi Arabia, highlighting their impact in spurring the development of the critical sector.
Grankraft: Setting New Standards in Saudi Architecture and Engineering Space
For more than 20 years, Grankraft has been consistently renowned for its excellence, consistency, and commitment to transforming a vision into reality. The global firm specializes in constructing complex architectural structures, providing innovative design and build services that are both safe and sustainable.
Using the support of AstroLabs, Grankraft has been ramping up a robust business presence in the Kingdom. The company’s commitment to Saudi Arabia’s construction industry is evident through its involvement in a plethora of projects, such as the Shybarah Hotel, located at the heart of the Red Sea giga project.
Prior to its Saudi expansion, Grankraft had established a strong track record by working on key infrastructure projects in Saudi Arabia, including Riyadh Metro and Riyadh Airport. These notable achievements set the stage for the company’s future operations and long-term success.
Underscoring the importance of market entry partners in helping global companies speed up the market entry process, Ramesh Iyengar, the company’s CFO, said: “I would recommend a company that is looking to expand to Saudi Arabia to find a local market entry partner like AstroLabs who can identify the needs of the authorities and use their local know-how to fast-track the process of expansion for businesses.”
The AstroLabs on-ground team supported Grankraft in approaching the right organizations and fulfilling the requirements to attain these advantages faster and smoother—helping the expansion leader capitalize on the untapped opportunities in the Saudi construction sector.
For Grankraft, partnering with the Gulf’s leading business expansion platform has been pivotal in fueling the firm’s next growth chapter. With a strong presence across the GCC and a growing footprint in Asia, Europe, and Africa, Grankraft has grown its workforce to over 800 employees. It currently operates three diversified operational manufacturing facilities.
Konn Technologies: Pioneering Proptech in Saudi Arabia
A key part of its Vision 2030, Saudi Arabia aims to build 150,000 new residential units annually to accommodate Riyadh’s population, projected to reach 15 to 20 million by 2030. These objectives necessitate the implementation of cutting-edge technologies that enhance productivity and boost efficiency.
The Kingdom’s heightened focus on embracing proptech solutions is reflected in the growing wave of proptech firms that have recently set up a base in the local market, such as Konn Technologies.
With residential real estate experiencing an underway boom, international companies are rapidly eyeing expansion to the Kingdom to capitalize on ample opportunities presented by the market.
Originating in Jordan, Konn Technologies allows homebuyers to customize their homes off-plan by streamlining the design and pricing process. The company primarily caters to the rising demand for houses and surging interest in this sector in light of a real estate resurgence.
Konn’s Saudi expansion journey, executed mostly remotely through AstroLabs, took less than three months. The process includes obtaining necessary permits, such as commercial registration, Iqama, as well as registration on governmental portals.
Speaking about AstroLabs’ role in streamlining the business expansion for Konn Technologies, co-founder and CEO, Basel Uraiqat, explained: “Especially in the beginning, you need some anchoring to understand the landscape of the country. And the team at AstroLabs helped us navigate through the process in an ever-evolving market.”
Supported by government initiatives and growing investor appetite, the scene is now poised for a swathe of more innovative solutions to emerge. With its laser focus on accelerating its growth in the Kingdom, Konn Technologies is uniquely positioned to contribute to and benefit from Saudi Arabia’s fast-evolving construction landscape.
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Waagner Biro Steel and Glass: Redefining the Future of Saudi Construction
Waagner Biro Steel and Glass, an Austrian firm with a history spanning 165 years, provides innovative engineering solutions for government and private clients. Their extensive industry expertise allows the company to fit uniquely into Saudi Arabia’s remarkable narrative of growth.
The construction leader Waagner Biro Steel and Glass recently expanded into the Saudi market, which Jason Wilson, general manager, described as “too big to ignore.”
Emphasizing the importance of establishing a presence in the Saudi market, Wilson explained that mega events such as the FIFA World Cup 2034 and Riyadh Expo 2030 will significantly boost Saudi construction over the next decades.
The company’s Saudi expansion journey was largely facilitated by AstroLabs’ on-ground team, playing a crucial role in getting the company’s trading license, thus accelerating its time to market.
AstroLabs provided Waagner Biro with comprehensive support, starting from securing a business address and facilitating VAT registration to offering post-setup assistance such as managed PRO services. This crucial support allowed the company to foster regional success and pursue breakthrough opportunities for large-scale projects in construction.
The company’s official underscored the importance of being “physically present” in the country to capture significant market opportunities.
“Everyone wants to win a contract before exploring Saudi Arabia, but having a local presence is key to winning contracts in the Kingdom. Getting into Saudi Arabia early is especially important when you are tendering, and part of the scoring is dependent on whether you have a license. Get in on the ground, and you will pre-qualify for projects because you have a license,” he explained.
With the construction sector poised for further growth, the company is viewing Saudi Arabia as a key part of its journey for the next 10 to 20 years, with projects planned in the country described by Wilson as “out of this world.”
Impararia: Spearheading Smart City Innovation in Saudi Arabia
Impararia, originally from Montreal, has emerged as a key player in the global architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) industry, particularly in the realm of smart city technologies.
As a crucial part of its Vision 2030, the Kingdom has broadened its smart city initiatives to promote urban sustainable development, creating multiple growth avenues for international companies, including Impararia. The scope and breadth of the Saudi smart city market are reflected in its growing value, projected to reach $14.74 million by 2027.
Impararia’s international outreach and vast expertise align perfectly with the Saudi Vision 2030, spurred on by its giga projects. The global innovator extends best-in-class technologies and methodologies that streamline the development of smart cities, with a focus on efficient modular architecture.
As such, Saudi Arabia formed the ideal destination for Impararia, with the support of AstroLabs’ on-ground team being key in enabling the global firm to find the right footing in the Saudi market. Utilizing their expansive network in Saudi Arabia, Impararia was able to forge meaningful connections with industry partners, further entrenching its presence in the local market.
The Kingdom’s recent wins of hosting FIFA World Cup 2034 and Riyadh Expo 2030 are expected to provide a shove forward in the construction industry, with companies like Impararia playing a key role in optimizing infrastructure planning to improve urban livability.
As we stand on the threshold of Vision 2030-led economic growth and industrial expansion, Saudi Arabia continues to shine as a compelling choice for global leaders across various segments of the construction industry.
By strategizing a footprint expansion in Saudi Arabia, international businesses remain well-positioned to seize once-in-a-lifetime opportunities while serving as key architects of a new era of economic transformation.
Join AstroLabs’ expansion network and contribute significantly to shaping Saudi Arabia’s future