Riyadh hosts the 3rd Annual International Ground Innovation Conference (IGIC 2026) on 9 and 10 November 2026 at the Fairmont Riyadh, with leading engineers, consultants, contractors, academics and infrastructure specialists from the Kingdom and the Middle East and North Africa region.
The conference dates are 9–10 November 2026. A separate pre-conference workshop day takes place on 8 November 2026 at the same venue. According to the published agenda, conference day one opens with registration at 08:00 and closes at 16:30; day two starts at 08:55 and closes at 16:40, Saudi Arabia time (UTC+3). Check the official agenda for programme updates.
Returning for its third edition, the conference is a specialized platform for exchanging knowledge on the latest developments in soil, foundation and rock engineering, and for discussing the geotechnical solutions demanded by major infrastructure and urban development projects.
Geotechnical Solutions for Giga-Projects
IGIC 2026 coincides with the Kingdom's expansion in construction, infrastructure and urban development, and the engineering challenges that come with it in soil and rock characteristics, foundation design, and excavation and tunneling works.
The conference focuses on practical experiences and solutions that help engineers, developers and contractors handle these challenges, presenting the modern practices and technologies used in major projects.
The event also creates a space where local and international expertise meets to discuss developments in geotechnical engineering and connect scientific knowledge with the needs of real projects.
Soil Improvement, Excavation and Tunneling Among the Main Themes
The technical program covers a number of specialized topics, led by large-scale soil improvement techniques, foundation design and construction, and the excavation and tunneling technologies used in infrastructure projects.
The conference also addresses rock mechanics and its applications in projects across the Kingdom's different geological environments, as well as the management of geological and geotechnical risks in design and construction.
The program extends to mining geotechnics, with a dedicated workshop on engineering issues and solutions in that sector.
AI Enters Geotechnical Engineering
IGIC 2026 devotes part of its discussions to digital transformation and AI applications in geotechnical engineering, as data and digital tools are increasingly used to analyze site characteristics, improve design and predict risks.
This gives specialists a view of the tools and technologies that can raise the accuracy of geotechnical studies, support engineering decisions and improve project efficiency during design and construction.
International Expertise and Knowledge Exchange
The conference's technical advisory board includes experts, academics and specialists from several countries, including Saudi Arabia, the United States, India, Switzerland, France and Germany, broadening the range of expertise presented in the sessions.
The program also includes specialized panel sessions on contractual risk management, along with networking opportunities for engineers, consultants, contractors and representatives of companies and bodies working on infrastructure projects.
IGIC 2026 thus offers a space that combines science and technology with practical experience, opening the way for knowledge exchange and for exploring solutions that can support the efficient and sustainable delivery of major projects.
Registration and fees
The official website offers paid registration categories, with terms and fees depending on the delegate category and workshop. Prices differ across the website pages; review official registration and confirm the category and payable amount with the organizer before payment.
