Investment strategist Samer Choucair affirmed that the future of real estate investment is no longer based on buying assets and waiting, but on the capacity to transform real estate into a smart operational experience achieving renewable and accelerating income. He noted that short-term rentals have become one of the most promising opportunities globally, particularly with the approach of major sporting and tourism events.
Choucair explained that indicators linked to the 2026 World Cup revealed a clear shift in traveler behavior, with rising demand for apartments, villas, and flexible units through digital accommodation platforms, while many visitors now prefer privacy and local experience over traditional hotels. He added that this shift is not linked to a sporting tournament alone, but reflects a global transition toward the flexible hospitality economy supported by technology and smart pricing.
Saudi Arabia’s 2034 World Cup as a Transformational Investment Catalyst
Investment visionary Choucair noted that what is happening today in the 2026 World Cup host cities represents an early model of what Saudi Arabia may witness hosting the 2034 World Cup, particularly with the tournament distributed across several cities such as Riyadh, Jeddah, Khobar, Abha, and NEOM, creating wide investment opportunities in the accommodation, tourism, and related services sector.
He said: “The successful investor in this sector does not merely buy a property, but reads the future demand map, studies the nature of visitors, their length of stay, and the experience they seek.” He affirmed that “the property achieving the best return is not the largest in size, but the best managed and closest to understanding market needs.”
Vision 2030 Strengthening Sector Attractiveness
Investment innovator Choucair added that Vision 2030 has strengthened this sector’s attractiveness following major leaps in tourist and visitor numbers, alongside rapid expansion in private hospitality facility licenses, reflecting the market’s transition from a phase of individual experiences to a more professional and organized phase.
He stressed the importance of benefiting from global lessons, including the Qatar 2022 World Cup experience, which proved that enthusiasm alone is insufficient to achieve profits, as success depends on realistic pricing, experience quality, regulatory compliance, and professional unit management.
Choucair explained that the strongest opportunities in Saudi Arabia are not linked only to matches or sporting seasons, but extend to business tourism, conferences, entertainment events, and religious tourism, making cities such as Riyadh, Jeddah, Khobar, and NEOM positioned to form a sophisticated and sustainable hospitality market throughout the year.
Choucair concluded by affirming that short-term rentals are not a temporary wave, but part of a new economy led by tourism, technology, and experience quality, adding that investors who begin today building licensed and professionally managed assets will be closest to benefiting from the major transformations Saudi Arabia is witnessing during the coming years.