As Saudi Arabia’s construction market scales to meet the ambitions of Vision 2030, Al Ansari Group is undergoing a comprehensive transformation to become a more integrated, institutional and future-ready organisation. 

In an exclusive interview with Gulf Construction’s Bina Goveas, Chairman Saud Abdulaziz Al Ansari outlines how the four-decades-old conglomerate is aligning its construction, real estate, industrial, trading and investment capabilities to deliver greater value across the kingdom’s development pipeline.

Established in the Eastern Province in 1981 and well-known for its precast and readymix concrete operations through Qanbar Dywidag and Qanbar Ready Mix, Al Ansari Group’s business platform also encompasses Al Ansari Trading, which serves industrial and construction markets with equipment, spare parts, safety products and industrial supplies, and Abyan Real Estate, which provides property and facilities management services.  

The Saudi family-owned diversified group is now prioritising deeper integration across its businesses, connecting manufacturing, building systems, trading, investment and real estate rather than running them as silos.

“We want our legacy to be visible in the industries we help develop, the buildings and communities we contribute to, the jobs we create, the Saudi professionals we develop and the businesses we leave for future generations”

– Saud Al Ansari 

“Our ambition is to transform Al Ansari Group into a more integrated, institutional and future-ready organisation,” Al Ansari says. “This includes strengthening governance, increasing operational efficiency, accelerating digital transformation, developing our people and creating greater integration between our industrial, construction, real estate, trading and investment activities.”

With giga-projects and national programmes driving unprecedented demand in Saudi Arabia, Al Ansari sees industrialisation and technology as central to faster, more efficient and sustainable construction. 

“Our approach is not simply to increase production,” he notes. “We are continuously evaluating new technologies, construction systems, automation and manufacturing methods that can improve productivity, quality and speed of delivery,” Al Ansari remarks.

That ambition extends well beyond individual project supply. “We see an opportunity to participate across the value chain – through manufacturing, building systems, construction-related services, real estate investment and development, and long-term asset and facilities management.”

In real estate specifically, the group is shifting from acting as a service provider toward a broader role as developer, investor and asset owner. “Property and facilities management remain important capabilities, but our ambition extends beyond being solely a service provider,” he says. “We see opportunities to operate as a developer, investor and asset owner.” 

Residential, industrial and logistics assets are particularly attractive, Al Ansari points out, given Saudi Arabia’s demographic growth and Vision 2030’s push to expand manufacturing and logistics.

Diversification across manufacturing, construction, trading, real estate, facilities management and investments helps insulate the group from raw material price volatility and market cycles. 

Human capital is equally central: the Akfaa Program focuses on talent development across subsidiaries, while the Athar programme drives corporate social responsibility efforts in supporting local communities.

Over the next five years, Al Ansari aims to complete the group’s institutional transformation, expand selected industrial capabilities, strengthen its real estate platform, and continue developing Saudi leadership and technical talent.

“For us, legacy is not measured simply by the size of the group or the number of projects we participate in,” he says. “We want our legacy to be visible in the industries we help develop, the buildings and communities we contribute to, the jobs we create, the Saudi professionals we develop and the businesses we leave for future generations.”

His message to the wider GCC construction sector: “Al Ansari Group is evolving to meet the future of construction. By blending over four decades of proven reliability with technology, sustainable practices, and talent development, we aim to offer our partners a future-ready, fully integrated construction and development engine.”

Excerpts of the interview with Saud Abdulaziz Al Ansari, Chairman of Al Ansari Group:

Al Ansari Group has a heritage spanning more than four decades. What is the central ambition behind the group’s current transformation, what are the main strategic changes you are implementing?

Al Ansari Group has been part of Saudi Arabia’s business and industrial landscape for more than four decades. Throughout this journey, we have continuously evolved while remaining committed to the values on which the group was established.

Today, our transformation is closely aligned with the extraordinary progress taking place across the kingdom under Saudi Vision 2030. With the continued support and leadership of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, and His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, the private sector is operating in an environment of unprecedented opportunity.

Our ambition is to transform Al Ansari Group into a more integrated, institutional and future-ready organisation. This includes strengthening governance, increasing operational efficiency, accelerating digital transformation, developing our people and creating greater integration between our industrial, construction, real estate, trading and investment activities.

We see this transformation not simply as a growth strategy, but as our responsibility to ensure that this Saudi business, established more than 40 years ago, continues to contribute meaningfully to the kingdom for generations to come.

QDC offers a comprehensive range of standard precast concrete products such as bollards, benches, planters, trash containers, wheel stoppers, and manholes. 

Integrating the value chain

How do you intend to leverage the group’s existing capabilities in building materials, construction systems, trading and investment to create a more integrated offering to developers and contractors?

One of Al Ansari Group’s greatest strengths is the diversity of capabilities that have been developed across the group over many decades.

Our objective now is to create greater integration between these capabilities. Rather than viewing manufacturing, construction systems, trading, investment and real estate as independent activities, we see significant value in connecting them. This enables us to provide our customers and partners with a broader value proposition, from materials and construction solutions through to project support, investment and ultimately the management of completed assets.

This direction also supports Vision 2030’s emphasis on strengthening local supply chains, increasing local content and building competitive Saudi companies capable of delivering greater value within the kingdom.

Qanbar Dywidag has a strong position in precast and prestressed concrete, while Qanbar Ready Mix operates multiple batching plants and locations. Are you planning to expand production capacity, introduce new building systems or invest in more industrialised methods of construction?

Absolutely. We consider our industrial businesses to be an important part of the group’s future.

The scale of development taking place across Saudi Arabia is creating significant demand not only for additional capacity, but for faster, more efficient and increasingly industrialised construction solutions.

Our approach is, therefore, not simply to increase production. We are continuously evaluating new technologies, construction systems, automation and manufacturing methods that can improve productivity, quality and speed of delivery.

The National Industrial Strategy and Vision 2030 have created a highly supportive environment for industrial investment, localisation and private sector participation. We intend to take advantage of these opportunities while ensuring that our investments are commercially sustainable and contribute to developing local industrial capabilities.

QDC cladding panels ... high quality.

How is Al Ansari Group responding to the growing demand for faster, more efficient and more sustainable construction methods?

The construction industry is changing rapidly, and we believe industrialisation and technology will play an increasingly important role in its future.

Precast construction is already an important part of our capabilities, and we are evaluating opportunities in modular and other modern methods of construction, alongside digital project management, automation and advanced materials.

For us, efficiency is not simply about building faster. It is about reducing waste, improving quality, increasing predictability, optimising the use of resources and ultimately delivering better value throughout the life cycle of a project.

This direction is strongly aligned with the kingdom’s transformation under Vision 2030, which has encouraged the adoption of modern construction technologies and greater private-sector participation in delivering high-quality development.

Capturing the Vision 2030 opportunity

Saudi Arabia’s giga-projects and Vision 2030 programmes are creating unprecedented demand for construction capacity and building products. Where does Al Ansari Group see the greatest opportunities to participate in this pipeline?

The opportunities created by Vision 2030 are unprecedented in both scale and diversity. We see opportunities across housing, infrastructure, industrial development, logistics, tourism and major urban developments. For Al Ansari Group, however, participation is not limited to supplying products to individual projects.

We see an opportunity to participate across the value chain – through manufacturing, building systems, construction-related services, real estate investment and development, and long-term asset and facilities management.

The government’s commitment to empowering the private sector, increasing local content and developing national industries has created an environment in which established Saudi companies can invest with greater confidence and take a much larger role in the kingdom’s development.

We consider ourselves fortunate to be operating during this historic period, and we intend to contribute wherever our capabilities can create sustainable and measurable value.

Qanbar Ready Mix ... well equipped to supply a diverse range of projects in the kingdom.

Expanding across real estate

Real estate is an important part of the group’s growth strategy, particularly through property and facilities management capabilities. Do you intend to remain primarily a service provider, or are you considering a larger role as a developer, asset owner and investor?

Our direction is clearly toward playing a broader role across the real estate value chain.

Property and facilities management remain important capabilities, but our ambition extends beyond being solely a service provider. We see opportunities to operate as a developer, investor and asset owner, while continuing to strengthen our property and facilities management platform. This creates an integrated model in which we can participate from investment and development through to operation and long-term asset management.

The transformation of Saudi Arabia’s real estate sector under Vision 2030, together with government initiatives to improve regulation, encourage investment and strengthen private-sector participation, gives us confidence in pursuing this strategy.

What types of real estate opportunities are currently most attractive to the group and why?

We do not limit ourselves to a single real estate segment. Our approach is opportunity-driven but disciplined, with a strong focus on long-term demand and sustainable returns.

Residential development remains attractive because of demographic growth and the continued development of the housing sector under Vision 2030. Industrial and logistics assets are also increasingly important as the kingdom expands its manufacturing and logistics capabilities.

At the same time, we continue to evaluate commercial, hospitality and mixed-use opportunities where the fundamentals are compelling.

Our advantage is that we approach real estate both as an investor and as an operator. This gives us a long-term perspective on the quality, efficiency and sustainability of the assets in which we invest.

Qanbar Ready Mix has supplied many of the major projects in Saudi Arabia with millions of cubic metres of concrete.

Building resilience through diversification

How does your diversified business model protect the group against raw material price volatility and market cycles?

Diversification has always been one of the strengths of Al Ansari Group. Our activities span manufacturing, construction-related industries, trading, real estate, facilities management and investments. These sectors do not necessarily move through economic cycles at the same pace, which provides greater resilience to the group.

However, diversification alone is not enough. We are strengthening procurement, financial planning, risk management and operational controls across our businesses.

We also increasingly look for opportunities to create synergies between group companies, improve purchasing power and strengthen our local supply chains. This supports both commercial resilience and the kingdom’s wider objective of increasing local content.

How is the Akfaa Program reshaping operational performance and workforce capabilities across your subsidiaries?

Akfaa reflects our focus on developing people and strengthening capabilities across the group. We believe sustainable business performance depends not only on assets and technology, but also on having capable people who are equipped to contribute to the organisation’s future.

Through Akfaa, our focus is on supporting talent development, strengthening employee capabilities and creating opportunities for learning and professional growth across the group.

As our businesses continue to evolve, building a stronger and more capable workforce will remain an important part of supporting operational performance and long-term growth.

Human capital is particularly important. Vision 2030 has placed significant emphasis on developing Saudi capabilities and preparing national talent for the future economy. We strongly support and share this priority.

QRM offers a wide range of concrete products including coloured concrete.

How is your Athar Program advancing corporate social responsibility (CSR) and sustainability initiatives across your operations?

Athar represents Al Ansari Group’s commitment to creating a positive and lasting impact through our CSR efforts.

Across our businesses, we recognise the importance of responsible operations, community engagement, and initiatives that contribute to the wellbeing and development of society. This is particularly relevant to our construction-related businesses, where our role extends beyond delivery to supporting the communities in which we operate.

Our approach is to continue strengthening our CSR initiatives across the group, focusing on meaningful contributions that reflect our values, support local communities, and align with the kingdom’s broader social development goals.

QRM's wide range of products include underwater concrete.

Moving further up the value chain

Are you looking to move further up the value chain, from supplying construction products and systems into development, contracting, project delivery or asset ownership? If so, what opportunities are you targeting?

Yes. This is one of the key elements of our long-term strategy. Our history and experience in construction materials and systems provide us with a strong foundation, but we believe there is considerable value in moving further across the value chain.

We are, therefore, exploring opportunities in real estate development, project delivery, strategic partnerships and asset ownership, while continuing to strengthen our core industrial businesses.

The objective is not expansion for its own sake. We want to enter areas where our existing knowledge, relationships, industrial capabilities and investment experience provide us with a genuine competitive advantage.

Vision 2030 has created a market in which Saudi companies are increasingly encouraged to expand their capabilities and take larger roles in delivering and owning assets. We believe Al Ansari Group is well positioned to participate in this evolution.

Abyan Real Estate Services specialises in providing services in property management and facilities management. 

What key milestones do you aim to achieve over the next five years, and what is your core message to the GCC construction sector?

Over the next five years, our priorities are to complete the institutional transformation of the group, expand selected industrial capabilities, accelerate digitalisation, strengthen our real estate development and investment platform, and continue developing Saudi leadership and technical talent.

We also want to deepen integration between our businesses and selectively pursue partnerships that introduce technology, expertise and new capabilities into the group and the kingdom.

Our message to the GCC construction sector is that Saudi Arabia today represents much more than one of the world’s largest construction markets. It is developing an increasingly sophisticated industrial, investment and development ecosystem.

For companies willing to invest locally, develop capabilities, transfer knowledge and build long-term partnerships, we believe the opportunities are exceptional.

Our core message to the GCC is: “Al Ansari Group is evolving to meet the future of construction. By blending four decades of proven reliability with technology, sustainable practices, and talent development, we offer our partners a future-ready, fully integrated construction and development engine.”

Al Ansari Trading provides high-quality safety equipment, spare parts, and cutting-edge industrial solutions.

Building a lasting legacy 

After 40 years of building businesses and relationships in the kingdom, what kind of legacy do you want Al Ansari Group to leave in Saudi Arabia’s next generation of cities and infrastructure?

For us, legacy is not measured simply by the size of the group or the number of projects we participate in.

Our family and our businesses have grown alongside the kingdom for more than four decades. We, therefore, feel a strong responsibility to ensure that the next chapter of Al Ansari Group contributes positively to the next chapter of Saudi Arabia.

We want our legacy to be visible in the industries we help develop, the buildings and communities we contribute to, the jobs we create, the Saudi professionals we develop and the businesses we leave for future generations.

Saudi Arabia today is undergoing one of the most ambitious transformations in the world. Under the leadership and support of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, our generation has been given an extraordinary opportunity.

Our responsibility is to make the most of that opportunity and leave behind institutions that are stronger, more sustainable and capable of serving the kingdom for many decades to come.

Is there anything else you would like to add about the group and its capabilities.

Perhaps the most important point is that Al Ansari Group combines heritage with ambition.

More than four decades of experience have given us strong relationships, industrial knowledge and a deep understanding of the Saudi and regional markets. At the same time, we recognise that the opportunities ahead require us to continuously evolve.

We are investing in our businesses, our people, technology and governance, while exploring new opportunities across industry, construction, real estate and investment.

We are deeply grateful for the support and opportunities provided to the Saudi private sector by our wise leadership and government. Vision 2030 has created an environment that encourages Saudi businesses to think bigger, invest for the long term and contribute more meaningfully to the national economy.

Al Ansari Group intends to play its part in this journey – building on more than four decades of experience while looking confidently toward the future.