Knowledge Economic City, a leading developer listed on the Saudi Stock Exchange (Tadawul), supervised by the Special Economic Cities and Zones Authority and contributing to the transformation of the city and economy of the Medina, announced that it has won two awards at the 2025 Global Economics Awards: “Most Innovative Iconic Design for the City Gate Project” and “Best Real Estate Developer in Integrated Urban Development in the Kingdom.” Saudi Arabia. ”
The award was presented at the Global Economics Awards ceremony, an international platform that recognizes excellence in the fields of economic development, infrastructure and real estate development, with Knowledge Economic City also participating as an official sponsor of the ceremony, showcasing the latest developments and projects.
This honor reflects Knowledge Economic City’s position as one of the most prominent developers in the field of sustainable urban destination development, adopting an approach based on the humanization of cities, combining architectural excellence, advanced infrastructure, sustainable mobility, hospitality and urban landscape revitalization to achieve long-term social and economic impact in the medina.
Speaking on the occasion, Hazem Al Banna, Acting Chief Executive Officer of Knowledge Economic City, said: “This dual honor marks our commitment to develop vibrant destinations that put people at the center of the experience and bring together innovation, culture and spirituality in an integrated environment, setting us up as a world model for integrated urban development. The City Gate project is a living example of our vision to deliver innovative projects that improve quality of life and create sustainable economic value in line with the objectives of the Kingdom’s Vision.” 2030. ”
City Gate is one of the key projects in the Knowledge Economic City master plan and is the first retail destination located directly at Haramain Express Station. The project is considered the first transit-oriented development (TOD) of its kind in Saudi Arabia, with an investment amounting to SAR 620 million.
The project features a strategic location that connects residents and visitors to the medina’s most important landmarks, integrating transportation, hospitality and retail within one urban destination, making it an attractive option for investors and tourists. The first phase of the project will expand the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Citygate, which includes 325 hotel rooms, plus more than 23,000 square meters of rental space.
Meanwhile, the “Best Real Estate Developer in the Development of Integrated Urban Destination” award reflects Knowledge Economy City’s comprehensive capabilities in the areas of governance, building strategic partnerships, sustainability and the environment, commitment to social and institutional governance (ESG) standards, and long-term asset management, reinforcing the city’s position as a sustainable and forward-looking city of the future.
This honor is given as confirmation of the knowledge economy city’s role in supporting the goals of Saudi Vision 2030 and contributing to strengthening Medina’s position as a global destination that combines cultural and historical depth, economic growth and innovative urban development.
It is worth noting that Knowledge Economic City is a public stock company listed on the Saudi Stock Exchange (Tadawul) and operates under the supervision of the Department of Economic Cities and Special Zones. Its main plan spans an area of 6.8 million square meters within the Medina’s urban area and will develop an integrated contemporary destination combining residential, commercial, cultural and entertainment, contributing to transforming the Medina into a global center of integrated modern living.
The city is strategically located near the Prophet’s Mosque, Haramain Express Station, and Mohammed bin Abdulaziz International Airport, and plays a pivotal role in supporting the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 goals by contributing to key programs such as the Divine Guest Experience Program, Quality of Life Program, Housing Program, and Human Capacity Development Program.
Knowledge Economic City, a leading developer listed on the Saudi Financial Market (Tadawul), which has contributed to the transformation of Medina’s city and economy under the supervision of the Special Economic and Cities Authority, announced that it has achieved double honors at the 2025 Global Economics Awards by winning the award for “Most Innovative Iconic Design of the Medina Gateway Project” and “Best Real Estate Developer in the Development of an Integrated Urban Destination in Saudi Arabia.” Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. ”
The awards were presented at the Global Economics Awards ceremony, an international platform that recognizes excellence in economic development, infrastructure and real estate development. Knowledge Economic City also participated as an official sponsor of the event, showcasing the latest updates and projects.
This recognition reflects Knowledge Economy City’s position as one of the most prominent developers in the field of sustainable urban destination development by adopting a human-centered approach that combines architectural excellence, advanced infrastructure, sustainable mobility, hospitality and urban landscape revitalization to achieve long-term social and economic impact in the medina.
Speaking on the occasion, Hazem Al Banna, Acting Chief Executive Officer of Knowledge Economic City, said: “This dual recognition recognizes our commitment to developing vibrant destinations that put people at the center of the experience and integrate innovation, culture and spirituality into a cohesive environment, a global model for integrated urban development. The Medina Gateway project is a living example of our vision to deliver innovative projects that enhance quality of life and create sustainable economic value, in line with the objectives of the Saudi Vision.” 2030. ”
Medina Gateway is one of the key projects in the Knowledge Economic City master plan and is the first retail destination located directly at Haramain High Speed Rail Station. The project is the first transit-oriented development (TOD) of its kind in Saudi Arabia, with an investment amounting to SAR 620 million.
The project features a strategic location that connects residents and visitors to the medina’s major landmarks, integrating mobility, hospitality and retail within a single urban destination, making it an attractive option for investors and tourists. The first phase of the project will include a DoubleTree by Hilton Medina Gateway hotel containing 325 hotel rooms, plus more than 23,000 square meters of leasable space.
On a different note, the award for Best Real Estate Developer in Integrated Urban Destination Development reflects Knowledge Economic City’s comprehensive capabilities in governance, strategic partnership building, commitment to sustainability and environmental, social and corporate governance (ESG) standards, and long-term asset management, reinforcing Medina’s status as a sustainable and forward-thinking city of the future.
This evaluation was undertaken as confirmation of the Knowledge Economic City’s role in supporting the goals of Saudi Vision 2030 and contributing to establishing the Medina as a global destination that combines deep cultural and historical significance, economic growth, and innovative urban development.
It is worth noting that Knowledge Economic City is a public limited company listed on the Saudi Financial Market (Tadawul) and operates under the supervision of the Economic Cities and Special Zones Authority. Its main plan, spread over an area of 6.8 square meters within the urban limits of the medina of 1 million, will develop a modern integrated destination combining residential, commercial, cultural and entertainment, contributing to the transformation of the medina into a global center of integrated modern living.
The city is strategically located close to the Prophet’s Mosque, Haramain High-Speed Railway Station, and Mohammed bin Abdulaziz International Airport, and plays a pivotal role in supporting the goals of Saudi Vision 2030 by contributing to key programs such as the Guest of Mercy Experience Program, Quality of Life Program, Housing Program, and Human Capacity Development Program.
