MIDDLE EAST 2026 SPEAKER

Ross McAuley, MD Advisor & Director General, Qiddiya

PropTech Connect » Speaker ME » Ross McAuley, MD Advisor & Director General, Qiddiya

Who is Ross looking forward to meeting?

“Destinations/Cities/Large infra projects”

Bio:

Destination experience is the foundation of a great city. It’s about forging narratives, creating connections, and developing communities. As a global leader in this space, I look at the potential of a city or a country beyond its branding and marketing, to oversee visitor experience and unique partnerships that transform them into integrated tourist ecosystems. My ultimate aim is to build enduring destination brands, underpinned by smart commercial frameworks and enriched with cultural, sport, and entertainment experiences. In my advisory role at Qiddiya, the entertainment, sports, culture and tourism giga project in Saudi Arabia, I work closely with corporate partners, ministries, international IP’s, and the sovereign wealth fund to develop this capstone project in the nation’s ambitious Vision 2030 goal of diversifying its economy. Purpose-driven creativity has always been at the heart of my work, in various senior leadership roles at Jumeirah Group, GEMS Education, and Scotland’s largest destination management organisation. I’m excited to be at the cutting edge of Saudi Arabia’s evolution into an immersive sports, entertainment and cultural destination.

Ross’s LinkedIn:

Bio:

Qiddiya’s Website and LinkedIn:

Qiddiya Investment Company (QIC) is developing Qiddiya City, the capital of Entertainment, Sports, and Culture. As part of Vision 2030, Qiddiya aims to create a world-class destination, boosting the entertainment sector, quality of life, and tourism in Saudi Arabia. With 360+ km2 of land southwest of Riyadh, Qiddiya City will offer family-friendly theme parks, sports venues, concert halls, racetracks, outdoor activities, and cultural experiences. Announced by HRH Prince Mohammad bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud on April 7, 2017. Qiddiya City is a Giga project of the Public Investment Fund, it supports the Kingdom’s economic growth, creates jobs, raises the quality of life, and contributes to tourism. At Qiddiya, we believe play can move society forward, opening up new opportunities and bringing joy. Our commitment to play is evident in everything we do, aiming to transform lives through play, and creating extraordinary and fulfilling experiences. We develop integrated ecosystems that allow you to play, live, stay, invest, or work, with play as a catalyst for learning, creativity, performance, connection, escapism, and personal growth. Once complete, Qiddiya City will include 59,000 buildings, housing over 500,000 people, and providing more than 300,000 job opportunities. A futuristic city comprising a mix of high-energy entertainment attractions, sports complexes, cultural landmarks and residential neighbourhoods set against one of the region’s most iconic landscapes.

About Qiddiya: