Autodesk: Artificial intelligence opens a new growth wave in Saudi construction

On the sidelines of the Shaping Mega Projects Summit in Riyadh, Naji Atta Allah, head of construction and manufacturing for the Middle East and Africa at Autodesk, said that artificial intelligence is no longer merely a tool for automating repetitive tasks, but has become capable of changing how major projects are designed, built, and delivered in the Kingdom. 'I think one of the big things about AI, like any new major technology, is that it has a positive impact on what is happening. One of those things is unlocking capability,' Atta Allah said, adding: 'I think AI will drive a new wave of growth for construction in the Kingdom.'

Three pillars where AI creates value

Atta Allah identified three main areas. First: automation. Though it is the most direct application, it has a large productivity impact because it allows professionals to spend more time on decisions that require human judgment. 'This may be the lowest-hanging fruit, but it has a very large impact,' he said. 'When AI can eliminate low-value or repetitive work, people can focus on what they do best.'

Second: the ability to analyze huge amounts of information. Construction projects generate massive data, but it is often stored across separate systems and organizations, making it difficult to link and analyze. 'Construction is known for creating massive amounts of data. This data is not always structured. It is fragmented across silos and not always connected,' Atta Allah explained. AI can identify patterns across those sets and surface insights that may be hard to detect manually. He gave an example of a Saudi project benefiting from information gathered from a similar project elsewhere in the world, especially when weather and material conditions are alike.

Third: enhancing human capabilities through intelligent design tools. Engineers have been accustomed to using software such as CAD with manual guidance of processes within the system. AI-enabled design environments may create a different relationship between professionals and their tools. 'Traditionally, as designers and engineers, we have used non-intelligent tools,' Atta Allah said. 'With progress, engineers will begin partnering with AI embedded in CAD environments to drive outcomes.'

Unprecedented pressure on the sector

This shift comes as the Kingdom runs a unprecedented building campaign across infrastructure, housing, tourism, entertainment, and urban development. According to MEED, the value of mega-project contracts already awarded is around $130 billion, while about $200 billion is moving in the market. The line size is expanding, putting pressure on the sector to improve productivity, build capacity, and manage increasingly complex projects.

A forum to bring the construction community together

Atta Allah said that forums like the Shaping Mega Projects Summit, organized by MEED over three days (28 to 30 September) and attended by developers, contractors, consultants, government entities, and technology providers, allow the community to tackle this challenge collectively. 'We are constant sponsors and participants of the event, and it is great to see the construction community and the Kingdom come together and discuss how we can deliver more to the demand we see across the Kingdom.'

What this means for those working in the Kingdom's project sector

The message is clear: AI in Saudi construction is no longer a future promise, but a tool available today to connect fragmented data, support engineering decisions, and free staff from repetitive work. For the civil engineer, the project manager, the technical consultant in Riyadh, Jeddah, or Dammam, the opportunity now is to learn how to 'partner' with intelligent design tools, rather than waiting for full automation that replaces the role. The next wave of growth will be led by teams that master this hybrid of human judgment and computational capability, in a sector where every productivity point distinguishes on-time delivery from costly delay.