Saudi Arabia’s first dedicated trade fair for workplace solutions, ORGATEC WORKSPACE, took place at the Riyadh Front Exhibition & Conference Centre (RFECC) from September 16 – 18, 2025. The inaugural edition of the three-day design fair, presented in partnership with dmg events and Koelnmesse, reflected the country’s evolving workplace design culture and commercial real estate sector. Bringing together over 100 exhibitors from 14 countries, it featured technology-driven furniture designs, lounging areas and office environments that embody sustainability, digital transformation and overall well-being.

Inviting leading professionals from the real estate, architecture, interior design, public and technology sectors, the exhibition also showcased workspaces in hospitality, healthcare, education and transportation. “By bringing the ORGATEC brand to Riyadh, we are creating an exciting space where global and regional leaders can connect, exchange ideas and set new benchmarks for how we design, build and experience the modern workplace,” Elaine O’Connell, senior vice president at dmg events, stated in the press release. The brand, guided by regional expertise, provided an international platform for innovation that caters to key market needs of Saudi Arabia.

The ORGATEC WORKSPACE Summit, one of the key programmes of the edition, comprised over 50 regional and international speakers who explored a wide range of themes, including AI integration, agile workplace concepts and corporate office design and real estate. Addressing sustainable design and the country’s cultural identity, the Summit presented a vision for the 2035 Saudi workplace, sparking discourse and inspiring innovative designs. “Inclusive workplace design in Saudi Arabia goes beyond compliance to also create a sense of genuine belonging. From prayer spaces and gender-appropriate areas to environments that serve a multigenerational workforce, these cultural and practical considerations are shaping the Kingdom’s workplaces of the future,” said Rachael Jones, head of specialist services at Jones Lang Lasalle, who participated in a session at the Summit.

The programme’s highlight included the talk Workplace Strategy & Corporate Real Estate - Aligning Space with Performance and Growth, presented by partner and head of programmes at Knight Frank MENA, Ian DS Sinclair, and Nadim Farah, head of corporate real estate, Saudi Arabia, at Turner & Townsend. Together, they examined physical space as a driver of agility, efficiency and long-term value in the rapidly changing business environments. “AI and technological advancement are reshaping the way we work. To remain competitive, organisations must align their workplaces with this revolution, creating environments that support people’s growth while driving efficiency and effectiveness,” stated Sinclair in the press release. Meanwhile, Farah acknowledged how workplace strategy and spatial design have become critical assets that are transforming the workplace culture.

The talk Rooted in the Region, Ready for the World - Saudi Workplace Innovation featured regional voices that discussed designing with identity and harnessing local market insights, while Designing for Diversity - Inclusive Workspaces in a transforming Saudi Arabia panel addressed inclusivity, accessibility and collective comfort. The keynote addresses included Gensler’s Global Workplace Survey - KSA Insights by senior interior designer Edith Eddy at Gensler, Middle East, and The New Generation of AI for healthier and more sustainable space - redefining Safety, Wellbeing and Environmental & Human Sustainability by Tekha Selim, executive vice president and Head of MENA Region at International WELL Building Institute (IWBI).

“As Saudi Arabia reshapes its corporate and urban landscape under Vision 2030, the ORGATEC WORKSPACE Summit will provide a front-row seat to the ideas shaping the future – and a platform where global expertise meets local ambition,” said Thomas Postert, director of ORGATEC WORKSPACE Saudi Arabia at Koelnmesse GmbH, in an official statement. The trade show welcomed over 3,500 professionals, promoting collaboration and driving business growth across the design landscape. It is set to return from September 13 – 15, 2026, for its second edition, to be hosted again at RFECC and co-located with the Hotel & Hospitality Expo Saudi Arabia.