Answer extracted from the Pegasus Radio podcast — listen to the full episode below.
How large are Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 accommodation projects?
Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 theme park developments are among the largest hospitality infrastructure projects in the region, encompassing approximately 25,000 accommodation units overall for staff. When Lionel Dore stepped back from the commercial oversight of this program, 1,800 units were actively under construction with another 3,000 to 4,000 in various stages of planning and pipeline.
A transformation mirroring Dubai's earlier trajectory
The scale of Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 accommodation strategy reflects the ambition driving the entire development corridor. As Lionel Dore explains in the episode, these theme park projects are attracting significant foreign investment and international expertise, positioning the country as a major hospitality and tourism hub.
The 25,000-unit total represents a commitment to worker accommodation that goes beyond typical hospitality development—it signals how seriously the Saudi government is treating the infrastructure needed to support massive international construction activity. Unlike smaller hotel or resort projects, this workforce housing model ensures continuity and operational stability for the vast construction teams required across multiple sites.
The 1,800 units in active construction at the time Dore left the role demonstrate the velocity of the program. Additional details about how these projects integrate with the broader Vision 2030 strategy and the construction timelines involved are explored further in the full podcast conversation.
Lionel Dore — Founder, Port Cullis LLC. Lionel spent 24 of his 25 years in London working at Davis Belfield and Everest, Davis Langdon, and eventually became a partner at Davis Langdon and Acom. His father was also a Quantity Surveyor at Davis Belfield and Everest. After his London career, he relocated to Dubai for five years working in retail as regional director for Acom and Atkins, then moved to Orlando in 2013 where he purchased and operated a roofing business, later worked as construction director for a housing developer, and subsequently joined BTY as director overseeing large infrastructure projects including airports, toll roads, and light rail.
Dore's direct involvement with the commercial side of these accommodation projects gives his assessment credibility rooted in hands-on experience. The 3,000 to 4,000 units in the pipeline signal continued expansion, suggesting that Vision 2030 developments may push the total beyond the 25,000-unit baseline as projects progress. Understanding the full scope of this workforce strategy—and how it compares to similar mega-projects elsewhere—is addressed in depth in the episode.
See also
How does working in Saudi Arabia compare to Dubai for construction professionals?
Saudi Arabia is now where Dubai was a few years ago in terms of opportunity, with greater earning potential than Dubai currently offers and higher living standards for construction professionals.
How does senior-level job placement in construction differ from entry-level recruitment?
At senior levels, you get very few jobs through putting a CV into a job application. Instead, employers want to know that the person coming has strong recommendations from people you'll likely be working with.
What visa pathway did Lionel Dore use to establish a business in the United States?
Lionel used an E2 investor treaty to move to the United States. This visa requires applicants to either form a business with a strong business plan or invest in an existing operation, and proof of continued business operation is required every 3 to 5 years.