PHILIPPINE CAE SECTOR GEARS UP FOR 2025 MIDDLE EAST CONSTRUCTION BUSINESS MISSION WITH POCB’S MARKET BRIEFING ON SAUDI ARABIA
Manila, Philippines — July 4, 2025. As part of ongoing efforts to expand the international reach of the Philippine Construction, Architecture, and Engineering (CAE) sectors, the Philippine Overseas Construction Board (POCB) conducted a virtual Market Briefing for the Philippine Construction, Architecture, and Engineering (CAE) Sectors focused on the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) last July 1, 2025.
The event aims to equip Filipino CAE players with current market intelligence on Saudi Arabia’s dynamic and rapidly expanding construction and infrastructure landscape in preparation for the Second Philippine Construction Business Mission to the Middle East, scheduled on November 13-21, 2025, at the sidelines of Cityscape Global 2025, in Riyadh, KSA. It gathered various industry stakeholders, including leaders and key representatives from POCB-registered companies, CAE firms, government agencies, and industry organizations.
POCB Chairman and DMCI Holdings Inc. Chairman and President, Engr. Isidro A. Consunji opened the briefing by highlighting Saudi Arabia’s large-scale developments as a key opportunity to raise the flag of Filipino CAE excellence and contribute to one of the world’s most ambitious transformation agendas. He reaffirmed POCB’s commitment to helping Filipino contractors enter and expand in this high-growth market.
Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 is driving a bold transformation to reduce dependence on oil, unlocking robust opportunities across tourism, culture, and the construction industry. This strategic shift has fueled a surge in giga projects, such as Neom, the Red Sea Project, Qidiya, and Diriyah, as well as various mega projects and events, which demand world-class finishing, sustainable engineering, and innovative design solutions – areas where Filipino CAE firms consistently excel. Highlighting these prospects, Commercial Attaché Vince Liwanag of the DTI-Philippine Trade and Investment Center (PTIC) in Riyadh emphasized that Philippine CAE services, renowned for their technical expertise, design innovation, and project management capabilities, are strongly aligned with Saudi Arabia’s evolving infrastructure priorities. He noted that major Saudi construction players have expressed strong interest in partnering with Filipino firms. To successfully tap into this dynamic market, Filipino companies are encouraged to explore strategic entry modes that offer flexibility in navigating regulatory shifts and fulfilling Saudization requirements, both essential to securing time-bound opportunities in the Kingdom’s rapidly expanding construction sector.
To further position the Philippines on the global stage, POCB Executive Director Doris U. Gacho shared that POCB launched a three-year strategic campaign focused on building strategic partnerships on CAE in key markets, including the Middle East. The campaign in the region began with the successful First Philippine Construction Business Mission to the UAE (United Arab Emirates) and Qatar in October 2024. This year, POCB will build on that momentum with a follow-up mission to Saudi Arabia, which will coincide with Cityscape Global 2025, the world’s largest and most influential real estate event showcasing the future of urban living, smart cities, and mega infrastructure.
In his closing message, POCB Board Member and First Balfour Inc.’s Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Anthony Paul L. Fernandez, encouraged participants to view the briefing as a meaningful step toward a shared goal of elevating Philippine CAE in the international arena, starting with the vast and promising opportunities in Saudi Arabia.
POCB invites Filipino CAE players and stakeholders to participate in the upcoming business mission and become key partners in advancing Saudi Arabia’s historic transformation and nation-building initiatives. As highlighted during the market briefing, the Philippine CAE sector is well-positioned to support the Kingdom’s bold and transformative Vision 2030 agenda, unlocking high-value opportunities for Filipino companies and professionals in overseas markets while driving national economic progress.
To learn more about this Mission, please visit: https://bit.ly/POCBMEMission2025.
For more information on how POCB supports the growth of CAE businesses overseas, interested parties may contact POCB@construction.gov.ph or mobile at +63-917-842-2254. For updates and announcements, follow POCB on Facebook at facebook.com/DTI.CIAP.POCB and visit the CIAP official website at www.construction.gov.ph.
