Sustainable Infrastructure Delivery for Expo, Hospitality, and Entertainment Districts in Saudi Arabia: Energy, Compliance, and Legacy Value under Vision 2030

References

[1] Saudi Vision 2030. Annual Report 2023. Riyadh: Vision 2030; 2024.

[2] Bureau International des Expositions. Saudi Arabia submits Expo 2030 Riyadh Registration Dossier to BIE. Paris: BIE; 2025.

[3] Bureau International des Expositions. Expo 2030 Riyadh: Building a Foresighted Future for All. Paris: BIE; 2025.

[4] International Organization for Standardization. ISO 20121:2024 Event Sustainability Management Systems—Requirements with Guidance for Use. Geneva: ISO; 2024.

[5] Saudi Building Code National Committee. Saudi Code for Energy Conservation—Nonresidential Buildings (SBC 601). Riyadh: SBCNC; 2024.

[6] Saudi Building Code National Committee. Saudi Green Building Code (SBC 1001). Riyadh: SBCNC; 2024.

[7] Sustainable Building Program. Mostadam Addendum 2024 and Sustainability Assessment Guides. Riyadh: Ministry of Municipal, Rural Affairs and Housing; 2024.

[8] United Nations Environment Programme. Global Status Report for Buildings and Construction 2023. Nairobi: UNEP; 2024.

[9] International Energy Agency. Energy Efficiency 2024. Paris: IEA; 2024.

[10] International Energy Agency. Efficient Grid-Interactive Buildings. Paris: IEA; 2023.

[11] UN Tourism. Climate Action in the Tourism Sector: An Overview of Methodologies and Tools to Measure Greenhouse Gas Emissions. Madrid: UN Tourism; 2023.

[12] Wang G, Wu P, Wu X, Zhang H, Guo Q, Cai Y. Mapping global research on sustainability of megaproject management: A scientometric review. Journal of Cleaner Production. 2020;259:120831. doi:10.1016/j.jclepro.2020.120831.

[13] Thounaojam N, Laishram B. Issues in promoting sustainability in mega infrastructure projects: a systematic review. Journal of Environmental Planning and Management. 2022;65(8):1349–1372. doi:10.1080/09640568.2021.1941810.

[14] Azzali S. Challenges and key factors in planning legacies of mega sporting events: lessons learned from London, Sochi, and Rio de Janeiro. Archnet-IJAR. 2020;14(2):203–218. doi:10.1108/ARCH-04-2019-0093.

[15] Minner JS, Zhou GY, Toy B. Global city patterns in the wake of World Expos: A typology and framework for equitable urban development post mega-event. Land Use Policy. 2022;119:106163. doi:10.1016/j.landusepol.2022.106163.

[16] Taha BS, Allan A. Hosting mega event—drive towards sustainable planning for public transport: case study, Metro Line Route 2020. Transportation Research Procedia. 2020;48:2176–2186. doi:10.1016/j.trpro.2020.08.274.

[17] Yamawaki Y, Castro Filho FM, Costa GEG. Mega-event transport legacy in a developing country: the case of Rio 2016 Olympic Games and its Transolímpica BRT corridor. Journal of Transport Geography. 2020;88:102858. doi:10.1016/j.jtrangeo.2020.102858.

[18] Byers T, Hayday E, Pappous A. A new conceptualization of mega sports event legacy delivery: wicked problems and critical realist solution. Sport Management Review. 2020;23(2):171–182. doi:10.1016/j.smr.2019.04.001.

[19] Xue Y, Temeljotov-Salaj A, Engebø A, Lohne J. Multi-sector partnerships in the urban development context: a scoping review. Journal of Cleaner Production. 2020;268:122291. doi:10.1016/j.jclepro.2020.122291.

[20] Foster G, Kreinin H. A review of environmental impact indicators of cultural heritage buildings: a circular economy perspective. Environmental Research Letters. 2020;15(4):043003. doi:10.1088/1748-9326/ab751e.

[21] Mahmoud M, Ramadan M, Naher S, Pullen K, Baroutaji A, Olabi AG. Recent advances in district energy systems: a review. Thermal Science and Engineering Progress. 2020;20:100678. doi:10.1016/j.tsep.2020.100678.

[22] Wang D, Meng J, Zhang T. Post-evaluation on energy saving reconstruction for hotel buildings: a case study in Jiangsu, China. Energy and Buildings. 2021;251:111316. doi:10.1016/j.enbuild.2021.111316.

[23] Lin H-T, Yen C-J. Hotel energy rating system using dynamic zone EUI method in Taiwan. Energy and Buildings. 2021;244:111023. doi:10.1016/j.enbuild.2021.111023.

[24] Alhamlawi F, Alaifan B, Azar E. A comprehensive assessment of Dubai’s green building rating system: Al Sa’fat. Energy Policy. 2021;157:112503. doi:10.1016/j.enpol.2021.112503.

[25] Harputlugil T, de Wilde P. The interaction between humans and buildings for energy efficiency: a critical review. Energy Research & Social Science. 2021;71:101828. doi:10.1016/j.erss.2020.101828.

[26] Salem IE, Abbas H, Akram HW, Elbaz AM. Contemporary sustainability themes in tourism and hospitality during and post COVID-19: critical review and step strategies forward for the post-pandemic period. Sustainable Development. 2023;31(5):3946–3964. doi:10.1002/sd.2636.

[27] Wu X, Liang X. Tourism development level and tourism eco-efficiency: exploring the role of environmental regulations in sustainable development. Sustainable Development. 2023;31(4):2863–2873. doi:10.1002/sd.2555.

[28] Simpeh EK, Pillay J-PG, Ndihokubwayo R, Nalumu DJ. Improving energy efficiency of HVAC systems in buildings: a review of best practices. International Journal of Building Pathology and Adaptation. 2022;40(2):165–182. doi:10.1108/IJBPA-02-2021-0019.

[29] Iqbal T, Aftab F. Green innovation and sustainability in Saudi hospitality and tourism industry: the mediating role of Vision 2030. Uncertain Supply Chain Management. 2025;13(1):11–22. doi:10.5267/j.uscm.2024.7.020.

[30] Mazzetto S. Fostering national identity through sustainable heritage conservation: Ushaiger Village as a model for Saudi Arabia. Heritage. 2025;8:4. doi:10.3390/heritage8010004.

@article{1722145,
      author = {Saquib Syed},
      title = {Sustainable Infrastructure Delivery for Expo, Hospitality, and Entertainment Districts in Saudi Arabia: Energy, Compliance, and Legacy Value under Vision 2030},
      journal = {Iconic Research And Engineering Journals},
      year = {2026},
      volume = {10},
      number = {2},
      pages = {423-435},
      issn = {2456-8880},
      url = {https://www.irejournals.com/formatedpaper/1722145.pdf},
      abstract = {Saudi Arabia’s expansion of expo, hospitality, and entertainment districts creates an opportunity to treat infrastructure as a long-term regional asset rather than a temporary response to visitor demand. This review examines how energy strategy, regulatory compliance, construction delivery, and post-event adaptation can be integrated across the lifecycle of such districts under Vision 2030. Thirty publications and institutional sources issued between 2020 and 2025 were synthesised through a structured thematic review. The evidence indicates that the strongest delivery model begins with district-scale load planning, passive climatic response, high-efficiency cooling, renewable electricity, water reuse, and digital measurement, while simultaneously embedding statutory approvals, sustainability certification, commissioning, supply-chain controls, and legacy conversion requirements. Event-led developments frequently underperform when permanent and temporary assets are planned separately, operational data remain fragmented, or legacy uses are defined after construction. Conversely, adaptable buildings, shared utilities, transit integration, modular components, and transparent performance indicators reduce stranded capacity and improve regional value. The paper proposes an integrated delivery framework linking energy, compliance, and legacy decisions through staged assurance gates from briefing to operation. It concludes that Saudi districts can create durable economic, environmental, and social outcomes when peak-event performance is treated as one operating mode within a broader, measurable, and adaptable urban system.},
      keywords = {Sustainable Infrastructure, Expo 2030 Riyadh, Hospitality Districts, Entertainment Districts, Energy Efficiency, Compliance, Commissioning, Legacy Planning, Vision 2030},
      month = {August},
      doi = {https://doi.org/10.64388/IREV10I2-1722145}
  }