Major Saudi construction players have expressed strong interest in partnering with Filipino firms, which are then urged to adopt “strategic entry modes” to navigate the Kingdom’s regulatory environment and capitalize on booming opportunities, according to the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) in a media release.
This was the key takeaway from the Market Briefing on Opportunities and Trends in the Philippine Construction, Architecture, and Engineering (CAE) sectors, with a strategic focus on Saudi Arabia, organized by the Department of Trade and Industry’s Philippine Overseas Construction Board (POCB) on July 1, 2025.
Held ahead of the Second Philippine Construction Business Mission to the Middle East this November, the virtual session aimed to prepare Filipino firms for the massive demand being generated by Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, a transformation program projected to channel between $1.3 trillion and $3 trillion into infrastructure and urban development.
POCB Chairman and DMCI Holdings President Engr. Isidro A. Consunji encouraged Filipino CAE players to seize the moment, saying Saudi Arabia’s large-scale developments offer an unprecedented chance to “raise the flag of Filipino CAE excellence” and contribute to one of the most ambitious transformation agendas in the world.
“Filipino contractors have what it takes,” Consunji said, citing the country’s proven track record in world-class finishing, sustainable engineering, and innovative design.
Commercial Attaché Vince Liwanag of the DTI-Philippine Trade and Investment Center (PTIC) in Riyadh confirmed that “major Saudi construction players have expressed strong interest in partnering with Filipino firms.” He advised companies to consider strategic entry modes that can help them comply with Saudi Arabia’s Saudization policies and adapt to regulatory changes.
These strategic entry modes, such as forming joint ventures, consortia, or technical collaborations, are seen as critical in securing time-sensitive opportunities across mega and giga-projects such as NEOM, Red Sea Global, Qidiya, and Diriyah Gate, which together account for hundreds of billions of dollars in planned investments.
POCB Executive Director Doris Gacho added that the briefing is part of a broader three-year campaign to strengthen the Philippine CAE sector’s footprint in high-growth markets. “We started in 2024 with the successful First Philippine Construction Business Mission to the UAE and Qatar. This year, we’re building on that momentum with a mission to Saudi Arabia, timed with Cityscape Global 2025 in Riyadh,” Gacho said.
Cityscape Global, the world’s largest real estate and urban development expo, is expected to offer extensive networking and project-sourcing opportunities for participating Filipino firms.
In his closing remarks, POCB Board Member and First Balfour CEO Anthony Paul Fernandez urged the sector to view the mission not just as a business opportunity but as a chance to elevate the Philippine CAE brand on the global stage.
With more than $1.3 trillion in construction and infrastructure projects already launched and billions more planned under Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, Filipino firms are well-positioned to contribute to the Kingdom’s historic transformation while expanding their own global reach.
POCB invites stakeholders to join the November mission and become key players in this Middle East boom. Interested parties may visit https://bit.ly/POCBMEMission2025 or contact POCB via POCB@construction.gov.ph.
