Forum leaders preparing the fifth edition of the Real Estate Future Forum met in London with Baroness Theresa May, the former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and a member of the House of Lords. The discussion took place during an international outreach tour designed to connect with influential figures worldwide, positioning the Forum as a venue for high-level exchange.
That visit ended with a formal understanding: Baroness May will take part in the Forum’s program and activities. Her planned participation was framed as a direct outcome of the London talks, linking the tour’s objective of engaging global leaders with the Forum’s upcoming agenda.
A partnership aligned with a changing market
The agreement was signed for the Forum by Reem Al-Harbi, Chief Operating Officer of the Future Real Estate Forum. In the meeting, both sides discussed possible areas of cooperation and considered how the former Prime Minister could add value to the Forum’s central conversations and sessions.
Her involvement arrives during a period of notable change in Saudi Arabia’s real estate landscape, where foreign investment is increasing and new opportunities are emerging across the Kingdom. Against that backdrop, the collaboration was presented as timely, tying the presence of an internationally recognized leader to a sector described as being in active transformation.
The partnership also supports the Forum’s wider push to develop strategic alliances internationally. As the fifth edition approaches, the Forum’s organizers continue to emphasize global engagement as a core part of its growth and direction.
A global program and a regulatory milestone ahead
The next edition is expected to bring together around 300 speakers, drawing prominent local and international voices from real estate, investment, and consulting. Participation is projected to span more than 140 countries, reinforcing the Forum’s aim to serve as a convening point for cross-border expertise and perspective.
The event is also set against a key regulatory development: the initial rollout of the updated foreign real estate ownership system in July 2025, ahead of full implementation in January 2026. This shift has been described as one of the most significant frameworks supporting the expansion of real estate investment, and its timing adds weight to the discussions planned for the Forum.
Abdullah Al-Harbi, CEO of the Future Real Estate Forum and Head of the FIABCI International Office in Saudi Arabia, said the participation of widely recognized global leaders reflects the Forum’s growing international standing and the momentum built through earlier editions. In welcoming Baroness May’s involvement, he underscored the idea that contributions from prominent figures strengthen the Forum’s position among leading platforms in the global real estate space.
Preparations for the fifth edition are now nearing completion. The Forum will be held from 26 to 28 January 2026 under the patronage of the Saudi Minister of Municipal and Rural Affairs and Housing, Majid bin Abdullah Al-Hogail, and will run under the theme “Expanding Horizons, Flourishing Real Estate.” Organizers anticipate strong attendance from senior leaders, specialists, and major organizations from Saudi Arabia and around the world.
Across the program, participants are expected to engage with subjects ranging from digital transformation to the future of resilient urban economies, as well as innovation in real estate development. The agenda will also examine the adoption of artificial intelligence and virtual reality in the sector, reflecting the breadth of change shaping how real estate is planned, built, and managed.
An exhibition alongside the Forum will present technologies, solutions, and products tied to the real estate industry. The gathering is also intended to function as a meeting ground for cooperation, including partnerships, alliances, and the signing of agreements and memoranda of understanding.
