Saudi Arabia’s capital recorded a 24 percent reduction in the execution time of infrastructure projects in 2025 compared to 2024, with the average implementation period falling from 34 days to 26 days.
According to the Riyadh Infrastructure Projects Center (RIPC), the improvement reflects stronger coordination among partners and stakeholders, alongside sustained growth in project activity. This progress was achieved despite a sharp increase in demand, with permits rising from more than 150,000 in 2024 to over 195,000 in 2025, a 29 percent increase across energy, water, telecommunications, and road projects.
RIPC attributed the gains to the rollout of a comprehensive infrastructure plan and enhanced pre-planning processes, aligned with its integrated value-chain approach to project management. This spans planning, coordination, and enablement, supported by continuous updates to regulations and standards to improve efficiency, minimise time and spatial conflicts, and reduce duplicated work.
The centre noted that its regulatory role has been central to unifying operational vision, improving stakeholder coordination, activating tools that raise execution quality, and ensuring alignment with quality-of-life objectives and asset protection.
Operational indicators point to wider growth in activity. Total project lengths increased by 24 percent, from 9,490 km to 11,784 km. The number of infrastructure-related reports handled more than doubled, rising 131 percent from 101,102 to 233,101, reflecting an expanded monitoring scope and improved reporting efficiency.
Supervisory visits rose sharply from 84,316 in 2024 to 292,794 in 2025, an increase of 247 percent, while license compliance rates improved from 91 percent to 92 percent. RIPC said these results demonstrate its commitment to strengthening safety and quality compliance through effective oversight and standardised guidance.
The centre added that its approach is designed to reduce disruption from infrastructure works, limit road closures, and improve the overall urban experience for residents. Looking ahead, RIPC reaffirmed its focus on advancing planning, coordination, digitalisation, and data management, alongside ongoing updates to the regulatory framework, to support sustainable growth and a more integrated urban environment for Riyadh.
