Riyadh: Minister of Municipalities and Housing Majed Al-Hogail on Sunday opened the International Facility Management Conference and Exhibition (SFMA EXPO 2026), held under the theme "Smart Facilities, Smart Cities." The event brings together experts and specialists, as well as government and private-sector entities, and others interested in the facility management sector.

According to Saudi Press Agency, Al-Hogail highlighted that Saudi Arabia's facility management market is valued at over $50 billion. This market size reflects the opportunities available to maximize asset value, improve urban efficiency, and develop a nationally competitive sector with a global reach. The minister emphasized that the conference is timely, given the ongoing expansion of Saudi cities and the growth of their assets and services, alongside major national and global commitments, such as Expo 2030 Riyadh and the FIFA World Cup 2034.

Al-Hogail pointed out the importance of advancing asset and facility management practices to improve efficiency. He stressed that effective facility management is crucial for cities' ability to preserve resources, enhance services, and make timely decisions. He advocated for a shift from merely operating facilities to managing asset value throughout their life cycles and from responding to failures after they occur to anticipating needs before they arise.

The minister explained that SFMA EXPO 2026 aims to move beyond the exchange of ideas toward scalable solutions, partnerships, and projects that can drive the sector's development and readiness for future challenges. Al-Hogail highlighted that smart cities are built on the ability to turn data into decisions, decisions into services, and services into value that people can experience.

In conclusion, Al-Hogail stated that the future of facility management in Saudi Arabia is dependent on technology as a tool, data as a foundation, investment as a driver, efficiency as a benchmark, and people as the ultimate goal. Organized by the SFMA, the event features participation from over 200 government and private-sector entities, along with international experts, specialists, and university professors, who are discussing the future of facility management and showcasing leading experiences, practices, solutions, and emerging technologies in the field.