Rise in demand for innovative lighting on the back of KSA’s Smart City & Sustainability agenda

August 20, 2023

The Lighting Design & Technology Expo taking place from the 10th – 12th September at the Riyadh Front Exhibition & Conference Centre is expected to highlight the Kingdom’s burgeoning lighting industry.


With the rapid rise of smart cities and the burgeoning need for energy-efficient smart lighting, Saudi Arabia’s lighting market is expected to grow exponentially over the next few years to USD 1.46 billion by 2026, according to industry experts.

 

According to Abdulaziz Al-Azem, Founder and Design Principal of Design Technology Services lighting Consultants & Advisor to Royal Commission of Riyadh City DQO, the growing state-of-the-art giga-projects being constructed across the Kingdom is a major driver for the lighting industry.



“We’re witnessing exponential growth in the lighting and design industry at the moment and it makes sense given Saudi Arabia’s future smart city plans. From the rise of smart homes, IoT disruptors, heritage preservation, the sheer escalation of the country’s entertainment sector, and Saudi Arabia’s maturing sports sector; these factors are all creating additional demand on the lighting and technology industry, and it’s all being underpinned by one of the biggest trends: sustainability.”

Abdulaziz Al-Azem


 

Offering a dedicated platform for the global and regional lighting industry and looking to showcase trends, cutting edge technology and innovative products is this year’s Lighting Design & Technology Expo. Taking place from the 10th – 12th September at the Riyadh Front Exhibition and Conference Centre, this year’s Lighting Design & Technology Expo will bring together lighting designers, consultants, system integrators, engineers, architects, the hospitality industry, interior designers and fit-out companies all under one roof to find solutions for their upcoming projects.

 

With an increased shift towards energy efficiency as part of its smart city plans, Saudi Arabia is looking to reduce electricity consumption through smart lighting technology. As the government invests heavily in smart and sustainable cities like NEOM – the biggest smart city in the country – ALNAMA Smart City and the Line (within NEOM), the demand for lighting is forecast to grow at CAGR of 7.1% over 2023-2028 and reach around USD 1.46 billion by 2026, according to market research and business intelligence experts, EMR.

 



“The introduction of IoT has revolutionised the lighting industry and is significantly changing the way we’re thinking about energy efficiency and consumption. With the government of Saudi Arabia encouraging the use of smart lighting solutions, we believe that this will play a big role when it comes to the future of lighting in Saudi Arabia."

Abdulaziz Al-Azem, who is also a speaker at this year’s Lighting Design & Technology Summit.

 



 

“From residential buildings and homes, to Saudi Arabia’s new resorts and hotels, and to the rise of digitally-tech savvy retail and office space, we’re witnessing immense demand for innovative and energy-efficient lighting products that can fit into the country’s ever-evolving real estate needs. What we really want to illustrate at this year’s Expo is the range of solutions we have on offer, the game changing trends in design and aesthetics, and reveal how lighting products can be used as part of the Kingdom’s sustainability agenda over the next seven years.”

 Elaine O’Connell, Vice President Design and Hospitality of dmg events, which organises the Lighting Design & Technology Expo, part of dmg events.



Co-located with the Hotel & Hospitality Expo, and INDEX Saudi Arabia, the Lighting Design and Technology Expo will also feature The Lighting Design & Technology Summit, which will tackle emerging trends in the lighting industry in an engaging way with thought-leaders and regional experts. From sessions around the current market, industry challenges, to discussions that reveal the business outlook predicting what the next few years will look like, the summit will create valuable learning experiences through keynotes, panel discussions and fireside chats.


Visit information


HOURS & DAYS

  • 10 – 12 September 2023
  • 16:00 – 22:00


LOCATION

Riyadh Front Exhibition & Conference Centre - Riyadh, Saudi Arabia


Visiting the Fair

www.lightingdesign-techexpo.com

SHARE THIS

 Contribute

G&G _ Magazine is always looking for the creative talents of stylists, designers, photographers and writers from around the globe.

WRITE US

 Find us on

Latest News

By G&G _ Magazine January 7, 2026
SAOTA introduced Lagoon Villa, an extraordinary architectural residence that seamlessly blends the vibrancy of Abidjan’s cityscape with the serene beauty of the Ébrié Lagoon. With interior design by Claude Missir, the villa epitomises modernist architecture while embracing the natural environment.
By G&G _ Magazine November 25, 2025
With an enviable location for those wishing to explore the city's art and culture, the Avani Museum Quarter Amsterdam Hotel is an ode to balanced and functional design, with its aesthetic curated by Spanish interior design studio El Equipo Creativo .
By G&G _ Magazine November 24, 2025
Visiting Casa Batlló means encountering the genius of Antoni Gaudí in his most imaginative and immersive form, where this modernist masterpiece combines creativity, craftsmanship, and multisensory storytelling.
By G&G _ Magazine November 11, 2025
LEI Interior Design has been recognized with the Best Luxury Apartment Interior Design award for Mina Azizi , Palm Jumeirah, in Dubai, UAE. This impressive honor from Luxury Lifestyle Awards reflects a thoughtful and design-led renovation that redefines what modern beachfront living can look and feel like.
By G&G _ Magazine October 28, 2025
Palmira an d GCA Architects unveil a room concept Praise to the Essential , celebrating the authenticity of materials and the elegance of simplicity. In a moment when travelers value emotional well-being and disconnection, the proposal reflects a new approach to Hotel Design, creating spaces that evoke tranquility, sensory experience and genuine comfort.
By G&G _ Magazine October 6, 2025
From October 22 to 25, 2025, the Ptak Warsaw Expo in Pruszków, Poland, will host the 9th edition of Warsaw Home & Contract , the largest interior design trade fair in C entral and Eastern Europe. This year, the event expands its scope, encompassing seven specialized trade fairs unde r one roof: Lighting, Textiles, Bathroom, Furniture, Kitchen, Build and Contract.
MORE

 Subscribe

Keep up to date with the latest trends!

Receive a dose of inspiration directly into your mailbox!

 Popular Posts

By G&G _ Magazine March 9, 2026
Between February 6 and March 8, Madrid Design Festival 2026 offered an intense program of exhibitions and events across the city. Throughout these days, it was possible to perceive the evolution of the festival, which expanded its program by integrating professional talks and meetings, revealing a strong desire among industry professionals to share the new Spanish approach to design with the world.
By G&G _ Magazine March 6, 2026
In a world where many hotels rely on polished aesthetics and predictable luxury, Piet Hein Eek offers a radically different vision. One of the most influential Dutch designers of the contemporary scene, Eek has built his reputation on redefining design through reuse, craftsmanship and imperfection. At the heart of this ecosystem lies the Hotel Piet Hein Eek - a project that embodies his philosophy and invites guests to experience design not as a static object, but as a living environment.
By G&G _ Magazine February 24, 2026
From 5 February to mid-March 2026, across three emblematic locations in Madrid — Institución Libre de Enseñanza, Plaza de Colón and FORMA — LOEWE Perfumes presents Crafted Garden , an immersive installation conceived for Madrid Design Festival 2026 . The project unfolds as a sensory journey inspired by Renaissance gardens, bringing together nature, fragrance and contemporary craftsmanship in a multi-layered exploration of design and olfactory culture.