Liwan Real Estate Development CEO Abdulrahman bin Saud Aldhyem, speaks to Gulf Business
At Cityscape Global 2025, Liwan Real Estate Development CEO Abdulrahman bin Saud Aldhyem outlined the company’s strategy for creating integrated, sustainable destinations that respond to Riyadh’s accelerating urban transformation. From the SAR4.5bn Liwan Najd development in East Riyadh to the continued momentum of Livein Liwan in the city’s centre, the company is aligning its product mix, financing approach and customer research with the demands of Vision 2030. In this exclusive interview, Aldhyem explains how Liwan is tailoring its offerings for Saudi and non-Saudi residents, building diversified asset portfolios, and strengthening investor confidence through off-plan models, strategic alliances and long-term risk management.
How did you determine the location and investment size for the Liwan Najd project, valued at SAR4.5bn in Granada district, and how does this align with your strategic roadmap?
At Liwan Real Estate Development Company, we are focused on developing mixed-use projects that cater to diverse segments within the city of Riyadh. Following a comprehensive study of Riyadh and the region’s market demand, we identified needs across the East, Central, West and North areas. We targeted the Central region for our first project, Livein Liwan. We are proud to have completed 50 per cent of it, with 70 per cent of the units already sold in the Al-Mohammadiyah district, central Riyadh.
The second project, Liwan Najd, is situated in East Riyadh on a land area spanning 151,000 square metres, with a total built-up area reaching 600,000 square metres. It comprises approximately 2,500 real estate units, including hospitality, commercial, office, administrative, educational, residential apartments and residential villas. This project’s scale is projected to achieve a sales value of SAR4.5bn. We have endeavored to integrate various segments and construction standards that are appropriate for the target demographic in East Riyadh.
As Platinum Exhibitors at Cityscape 2025, and with the presentation of Livein Liwan and Liwan Najd, what are your target segments—especially considering demand for apartments, metro proximity and housing for expatriates? How are you tailoring your designs to meet these needs?
For the past 20 years, we have been operating successfully outside the Kingdom, which has allowed us to sell and market to a wide range of nationalities. We have engaged with approximately 70 different nationalities, selling properties in the UAE, Turkey and Egypt. Consequently, we possess extensive prior experience and insight into the needs of both Saudi and non-Saudi community segments.
Therefore, we have now begun to offer studio units starting at 45 square metres, which are suitable for non-Saudi segments looking for secondary residences or accommodation for work. We also meet their requirements by creating a fully integrated project where they can live, work and access leisure, entertainment and sports facilities all within one location.
To achieve this, we offer units ranging from 45 square metres up to 250 square metres, integrating all the necessary uses for both Saudi and non-Saudi residents. This entire approach was informed by an in-depth analysis of over 5,000 customers, to identify these needs and ensure synchronisation with the nationalities expected to arrive in the future.
How do you distribute the asset mix among residential, commercial, office and entertainment components in alignment with Vision 2030? And what is the role of financial and operational partners in supporting your future projects?
Balancing the distribution of uses is a genuine challenge when integrating offices, commercial areas, hospitality and residential units. Each user requires a certain degree of privacy and tranquility. We worked closely with our engineering team and international design firms to ensure all four uses are integrated with complete independence, providing separate entrances, exits and parking for each component.
At the same time, all users can access the commercial areas via pedestrian walkways, eliminating risks from traffic. Commercial and office users can access retail shops seamlessly, making them an intrinsic part of the environment. This is fundamental to creating sustainability.
Projects that successfully combine commercial, residential and office spaces are inherently sustainable because they operate for extended hours. From 6 AM, office workers activate restaurants and open spaces. In the evenings, residents activate the restaurants and cafés, creating a vibrant environment operating for more than 18 hours per day.
Retail spaces become highly desirable for leasing. Office users benefit from enhanced services, and residents live comfortably knowing all essential amenities are nearby. This creates a sustainable living environment and high quality of life.
Regarding partners, we have successfully forged partnerships with all major banks and financial institutions. Today, we manage an investment portfolio exceeding SAR10bn allocated for real estate investments in Riyadh. Our current portfolio encompasses two projects with a combined value exceeding SAR6bn. Our goal is to build 10,000 residential units over the next five years.
With rising global interest in Saudi real estate and premium placed on metro-linked projects, how is Liwan enhancing risk management, financing and exit strategies to attract investors and achieve long-term value?
We currently operate our development projects under the Off-Plan Sales system, which offers superior financing solutions and is optimal for risk management. When purchasing off-plan, payments are made in convenient installments. As a buyer or investor, you are not committing all your funds to a project with an uncertain timeline. You make modest initial payments, followed by phased payments tied to completion milestones. You only pay an installment upon the successful completion of that phase, which provides higher security and lower risk.
As developers, we develop projects in phases that correspond to the sales cycle. Given the strong demand, we utilise four primary financing solutions: direct investment from Liwan, bank financing, participation from initial investors and off-plan sales. These four solutions build customer confidence, accelerate purchasing decisions and ensure swift execution. Our rapid pace of project completion, alongside the performance of our contractors, further enhances confidence.
Another key strategy is our alliances. Before launching a project, we sign agreements with the finest hotels and leading hospitality operators. We also pre-lease with most commercial tenants, which adds value through the reputation and competence of these operators. These solutions build trust with our customers and ensure sustainable investment returns.
Note: The above interview was translated from Arabic to English
