Saudi Arabia’s real estate industry is increasingly incorporating artificial intelligence into everyday construction operations as major developments move from testing digital tools to using them on active project sites. Developers and contractors across the Kingdom are adopting AI-powered systems to improve planning, streamline construction schedules and reduce the risk of delays. The shift comes as the country pushes ahead with giga-projects and smart city developments under Vision 2030, creating strong demand for efficient project execution on an unprecedented scale.

According to Matthew Marson, managing director at JLL EMEA, the focus has moved beyond deciding whether AI should be used in real estate. Instead, the key question is how effectively organizations can apply the technology to achieve measurable results. JLL is currently involved in the construction of a new giga-project city in Saudi Arabia, which is in the infrastructure and early building stages. Marson said managing timelines on a project of this size presents significant logistical challenges.

Large construction developments often face setbacks linked to supply chain issues, contractor coordination and changing site conditions. Such disruptions can increase costs and delay completion dates, making accurate planning essential. In Saudi Arabia, where projects are advancing rapidly, even small interruptions can affect budgets and schedules across an entire development.

To address these challenges, JLL is using ALICE Technologies, an AI-based construction planning platform supported by the company’s venture capital division, JLL Spark. The software evaluates millions of possible construction scenarios and helps project teams identify more efficient and reliable delivery plans. According to ALICE Technologies, the platform can shorten construction schedules by up to 17 percent and reduce labor costs by as much as 14 percent. JLL also noted that similar large-scale projects have regained between 30 and 60 days that might otherwise have been lost due to delays.

The benefits became evident when a supplier of specialized components reported a shipping delay that threatened a critical stage of construction. Rather than spending weeks manually revising schedules and coordinating contractors, project managers entered the new constraints into the AI system. Marson said the platform analyzed the impact of the delay and produced an updated plan within hours, significantly reducing the time required for decision-making.

While AI is not expected to replace human expertise in real estate development, it is helping project teams identify risks more quickly and respond more effectively when conditions change. As Saudi Arabia continues its large-scale construction drive, the success of AI adoption is likely to depend not on how many companies test the technology, but on how well they use it to keep projects moving forward.