October 7, 2026
The 2nd Desert Architecture KSA Forum 2026 will bring government authorities and built environment professionals together in Riyadh on October 12–13 to explore climate-responsive, culturally grounded and future-ready architecture across Saudi Arabia.
Hosted by Great Minds Event Management at the Radisson Blu Hotel & Convention Center, Riyadh Minhal, the two-day Forum will connect architects, developers, urban planners, engineering consultants, sustainability experts and solution providers involved in the Kingdom’s evolving built environment.
The conference will examine how architecture can respond to Saudi Arabia’s climate, geography and cultural identity while supporting the country’s ambitious urban development.
A central theme of the Forum will be the Saudi Architectural Map and its 19 regional architectural styles.
Discussions will explore how distinctive regional identities can inform contemporary architecture across cities, giga projects, public infrastructure, hospitality and real estate development.
The program will consider how traditional architectural principles and cultural heritage can be incorporated into modern projects without limiting innovation or building performance.
Designing for Saudi Arabia’s climate presents significant challenges involving heat, solar exposure, cooling demand and energy consumption.
The Forum will examine climate-intelligent design, including passive cooling and shading strategies that can help buildings respond more effectively to local environmental conditions.
Other topics will include sustainable and locally appropriate building materials, smart façades and energy-efficient building systems.
Expert presentations, project case studies and panel discussions will provide practical perspectives on how these approaches can be incorporated into projects across Saudi Arabia.
Sustainability and building performance will also feature prominently throughout the conference.
Sessions will examine renewable energy integration, net-zero strategies and circular design alongside technologies intended to reduce resource consumption and improve long-term building performance.
These discussions will connect environmental objectives with the practical realities of designing, constructing and operating buildings in desert conditions.
The 2nd Desert Architecture KSA Forum will also explore how emerging building technologies can complement culturally grounded design.
An accompanying exhibition will showcase products and solutions across façades, building materials, cooling systems, glass, lighting, automation, sustainable construction, landscaping and renewable energy.
This provides architects, developers, consultants and contractors with an opportunity to explore technologies that could support climate-responsive design across different building types and development environments.
Aligned with Saudi Vision 2030, the Forum will examine the relationship between architecture and the Kingdom’s broader urban development ambitions.
Government stakeholders, architects, developers and other industry leaders will have opportunities to exchange knowledge, examine emerging technologies and develop relationships across Saudi Arabia’s architecture and construction sectors.
The conference builds on the previous edition of the Desert Architecture KSA Forum and continues its focus on architecture designed specifically for the environmental and cultural context of the region.
The 2nd Desert Architecture KSA Forum 2026 takes place October 12–13, 2026, at the Radisson Blu Hotel & Convention Center, Riyadh Minhal in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Registration is open to architects, developers, government organizations, municipalities, consultants, contractors, engineers, academics, solution providers and other built environment professionals, along with sponsors and exhibitors.
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