W Riyadh Hotel – King Abdullah Financial District — Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Client
- King Abdullah Financial District
Project Value 
N/A
Market
Urban Development
Services
Program/Construction Management (PM/CM)
The W Marriott Hotel is the first W-branded hotel in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. This luxury hospitality development is located within the King Abdullah Financial District (KAFD), a PIF-owned district. It was delivered in accordance with international brand standards and regulatory requirements. Furthermore, it meets the highest levels of quality expected for a world-class hospitality destination.
Working under the Client’s leadership, we provided Program Management and Construction Management (PMCM) services throughout the project lifecycle, supporting the delivery of the development from concept design through construction, commissioning, and final handover. We also supported FF&E and OS&E procurement activities.
Saudi Arabia’s First Financial District And A Partner Project For Expo 2030
The hotel has been formally recognized as a partner project for Expo 2030 and the FIFA World Cup 2034. This positions it as a high-profile hospitality asset aligned with Saudi Arabia’s global-facing initiatives and long-term urban development agenda. It is also the first luxury W brand, Marriott-operated property to be delivered at this level of luxury design sophistication. Additionally, the architectural, interior, and experiential standards achieved exceed those of any existing W hotels worldwide.
This project required integrating contemporary luxury hospitality standards into an existing structure originally designed in 2008. Local regulations, international codes, and life safety requirements had changed since the original design was created. This introduced complexity, particularly in achieving compliance without major structural modifications.
We delivered compliant design solutions without major structural changes. These preserved the building’s integrity while meeting Marriott International brand standards and local authority requirements in close coordination with KAFD and Marriott.
Luxury Hotel Construction Management
As PMC on the project, we act as the employer’s representative, undertaking the engineer’s role under the Design & Build contract. We also delivered effective governance and seamless coordination throughout all phases.
We deployed integrated teams comprising design management, construction management, contract administration, and quantity surveying professionals. This multidisciplinary structure enables us to maintain robust control over quality, cost, and schedule, while proactively identifying and mitigating risks.
We played a key role from the early design development stages, supporting the project team in achieving alignment with international brand standards, current local regulations, and enhanced life safety requirements. With codes and industry best practices continually evolving, we worked closely with stakeholders to facilitate compliance. In addition, we coordinated design solutions and supported the successful delivery of the project.
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- Ballroom
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- Ballroom Pre-Function Area
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- Conference Room
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- Open Terrace Swimming Pool
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- Suite Living
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- Pop Café/Grab and Go
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- Standard Room Wardrobe
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- District Shower
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- District Bedroom Suite
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- Hotel Exterior
Project Scope
- Risk Management
- Procurement Management
- Contracts/Commercial/Claims Management
- Construction Management
- Handover Management
- Health and Safety Management
- Cost Management and Control
- Document Control Management
- Quality Assurance and Management
- Stakeholder Management
- Logistics and Interface Management
- Project Reporting
- Schedule Management
- Testing and Commissioning
- Procurement Support for FF&E and OS&E
Successful Delivery Of Lost Time Injury-Free Construction
This project has achieved 5,570,642 cumulative Project hours without lost time injury (LTI). As the client’s project team evolved, we assumed a central role in maintaining continuity and control across the project. This included establishing and managing governance structures, enforcing workflow protocols, and implementing stringent Health, Safety, and Environment (HSE) controls.
The team worked closely with the contractor beyond conventional PMCM responsibilities and supported FF&E and OS&E procurement, operator, and supervision consultants to address constructability issues, optimize construction sequencing, and resolve multidisciplinary site constraints. Coordination with Marriott International enabled phased occupancy planning, supporting a structured and controlled handover process aligned with operational requirements.
Stakeholder Testimonials
“It has been a great opportunity to work with Parsons on the W Riyadh – KAFD project. Their leadership, communication, quality of work, teamwork, and performance as Project and Construction Managers have been consistently strong. The clear and regular updates provided improved transparency and increased confidence in project progress. Their proactive planning and coordination were instrumental in keeping the project on track and delivering strong results.”
— Joseph Ramos, Resident Engineer, SaudConsult
“The W Riyadh – KAFD project is a complex luxury hospitality development within KAFD, requiring close coordination, strong governance, and seamless collaboration. Throughout the project, the Parsons team demonstrated strong leadership and ownership, working closely with the KAFD delivery team. Their proactive engagement, sound judgment, and ability to manage interfaces between the operator, contractors, and consultants were key to addressing challenges constructively. The professionalism, responsiveness, and collaborative approach of the PMCM team have supported delivery in full alignment with KAFD’s standards, processes, and expectations.”
— Abdulaziz AlTurki, Project Delivery Senior Director, KAFD
A Global Benchmark For Luxury Hotels
Marriott International has formally identified the W Riyadh – KAFD as a global benchmark within its portfolio. The project is expected to directly influence the future evolution and upgrade of W Hotel brand guidelines worldwide, reflecting the level of architectural, interior, and experiential standards achieved.
In The News
King Abdullah Financial District (KAFD): The First Vertical City in Saudi Arabia and a Model for High-Rise Residential Retrofit
Within Riyadh’s global financial district King Abdullah Financial District (KAFD), the Parsons-led residential uplift project stands out as a landmark example of how structured program recovery, technical rigor, and stakeholder coordination can restore value and functionality to complex residential assets at scale. The project breathes new life into residential towers originally designed in 2009. It transforms them into modern, premium living spaces that set a new benchmark for quality and sustainability in Riyadh. Read more.
Awards and Recognition
W Riyadh – KAFD Shortlisted Project of the Year In The Leisure, Retail & Hospitality Category By ME Construction News
In 2024, the W Riyadh – KAFD was shortlisted for Project of the Year for our work on the W Marriott Hotel, KAFD. We were also presented with the Refurbishment and Retrofit Project of the Year award for the team’s work on the King Abdullah Finance District (KAFD) Residential Uplift project. Read more.
Beyond its brand impact, the hotel strengthens KAFD’s position as a globally competitive mixed-use district. It also supports Saudi Arabia’s broader vision for internationally recognized destinations linked to major global events, including Expo 2030 and the FIFA World Cup 2034.
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