The 44th FIABCI Global Leadership Summit was held in Panama from December 2–5, 2025, under the theme “Connecting Visionaries for the Future of Real Estate.” The summit took place in the presence of H.E. Javier Martínez-Acha, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Panama, and brought together global real estate leaders, experts, policymakers, investors, government representatives, and CEOs of major real estate companies from around the world.

The summit, which welcomed representatives from more than 70 countries, focused on discussing the most pressing challenges facing the real estate sector, the future of the industry, international knowledge exchange, emerging developments, and promising investment opportunities. Discussions also highlighted digital innovation, sustainability, and the integration of PropTech solutions across the real estate ecosystem to enhance competitiveness and strengthen the sector’s global attractiveness.

The summit further emphasized international collaboration and professional partnerships through FIABCI’s global network, positioning the event as a leading platform for professional engagement, knowledge exchange, and the exploration of innovative solutions to current industry challenges.

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia participated with an active delegation aimed at strengthening the Kingdom’s position within the regional and global real estate landscape. The delegation included a number of prominent figures representing Saudi Arabia’s real estate ecosystem and was led by Mr. Abdullah Alharbi, President of FIABCI Saudi Arabia, CEO of the Real Estate Future Forum, and Chairman of the Real Estate Federation Association (REFA).

Through its participation, the Saudi delegation sought to engage with the latest regional and global real estate transformations while showcasing the role of the Real Estate Future Forum as a comprehensive platform that brings together industry stakeholders, investors, and decision-makers to explore investment opportunities, discuss sector challenges and opportunities, exchange expertise, and highlight the latest technologies in artificial intelligence and digital transformation within real estate — all in support of Saudi Vision 2030 objectives.

The delegation also briefed summit participants on the latest developments within Saudi Arabia’s real estate sector and the rapid momentum the market is experiencing, including large-scale real estate and development projects, growing adoption of sustainability and smart technologies, and accelerated urban expansion supported by strong government initiatives.

In addition, the delegation highlighted recent updates to Saudi Arabia’s real estate regulations and legislation, most notably the Foreign Ownership Law, which is scheduled to come into effect in January 2026, coinciding with the fifth edition of the Real Estate Future Forum. This timing presents an opportunity to integrate the law into the Forum’s awareness campaigns and educational initiatives, further supporting a real estate sector that has become increasingly dynamic and attractive to investment.

It is also worth noting that the Real Estate Excellence Award (REA), one of Saudi Arabia’s pioneering initiatives, was established through a partnership between the Real Estate General Authority and FIABCI. The award aims to promote excellence within both the Saudi and international real estate markets by encouraging innovation, achievement, and competitiveness across the sector. It also recognizes pioneering projects across various categories, including sustainability and urban planning.

Founded in Paris in 1951, the International Real Estate Federation (FIABCI) is considered the world’s largest professional real estate network, with more than 1.5 million members across 70 countries. FIABCI membership serves as an important gateway connecting markets and real estate professionals globally, while positioning the federation as one of the world’s leading organizations representing the global real estate ecosystem.

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