What is Versatile International's role in the construction industry, particularly in Saudi Arabia?

Versatile International is the Middle East’s first fully integrated Stone Project Management Consultancy, operating in both the UAE and Saudi Arabia. As part of the Versatile Group, one of Australia’s leading real estate development and construction companies, we have played a significant role in some of the region’s most high-profile projects since 2020. This includes working with Diriyah Company in Saudi Arabia on over 50 assets, such as public spaces, heritage centres, luxury hotels, libraries, museums, and residential complexes within its US$63 billion cultural district. 

Stone is increasingly favoured in construction due to its sustainability, abundance and versatility. However, unlike other materials, stone is a natural and often a finished product that forms the visible surface of an asset. This means that in destination-scale projects, even minor errors can result in significant delays and cost overruns.

Versatile International is hired by asset owners to protect their interests and provide end-to-end project oversight, from design and sourcing to procurement and installation. 

Importantly, we do not supply the stone, nor do we work for contractors—our role is to eliminate conflicts of interest and ensure the highest standards of quality control, offering asset owners full visibility across the supply chain and certainty of outcome.

Versatile International has played a significant role in major projects like Diriyah.  How is the use of Riyadh Yellow Limestone helping to preserve the cultural authenticity of these sites?

The use of Riyadh Yellow Limestone has been crucial in preserving the architectural authenticity of Diriyah, the birthplace of the first Saudi Kingdom. Well known for its warm, natural tones and subtle color variations, this durable stone will be featured across more than 700,000 square meters of public spaces and buildings in Diriyah.

What makes Riyadh Yellow Limestone special is how it complements the traditional Najdi architectural style, characterized by its geometric forms and minimal ornamentation. The stone’s rich, earthy texture blends seamlessly with the region’s historical mudbrick and stone structures, ensuring that the new development remains true to its cultural roots while accommodating modern needs. 

With increasing global attention on sustainable construction, how does the use of natural stones compare to other materials in terms of environmental impact, and what makes them a sustainable choice for destination-scale developments like Diriyah?

Natural stone is a highly sustainable choice of building material for projects like Diriyah. It can be locally sourced and follows a simple process—quarried, cut, transported, and installed—leading to a much lower carbon footprint compared to steel or concrete. Concrete, for instance, requires much more energy-intensive steps like extracting additives, high-heat treatments, and additional molding. Whereas natural stone only produces about 1/8 of the CO2 per tonne compared to concrete.

At Versatile, we are not against concrete, but for projects where authenticity, aesthetics, and sustainability are the priorities, natural stone is very hard to beat.

Natural stones are a critical component of several destination-scale projects in Saudi Arabia. Could you elaborate on where and how these materials are sourced and Versatile International’s role in the process?

We facilitate the sourcing of natural stone from our global network of over 200 quarries and factories across 15 countries while also developing local quarries in Saudi Arabia. Over the past three years, we’ve worked closely with Diriyah and the official ministries to identify local quarries that meet the high standards required for these destination-scale projects. This supports local jobs and reduces the environmental impact associated with long-distance shipping.

Sourcing natural stone is a highly technical process. We begin by evaluating local quarries for key physical properties like tensile strength, density, and water absorption, along with the available volume of stone at different quality levels. We then assess suppliers to ensure they have the capabilities to meet international standards, including ESG compliance. We also put geological engineers and supervisors on-site at both the quarries and processing plants to make sure the final product meets the asset owner's requirements. 

Essentially, we are involved in every stage, from quarrying to sample testing to transportation to processing all the way to delivery of the finished product to the asset owner. 

Looking ahead, how do you see the role of stone project management consultants evolving in Saudi Arabia’s construction industry, especially in light of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 and its commitment to sustainable urban development?

Stone is getting renewed attention for its durability and sustainability. It’s a natural fit for public areas and facades in urban development, offering both aesthetic appeal and environmental benefits.

However, working with stone, though, comes with its challenges. Unlike materials like concrete or steel, mistakes can be costly in both time and money and hard to fix. This is where our expertise comes in. We call it ‘getting stone right from the start’, and we ensure the right planning and oversight from the beginning, minimising risks and aligning the outcome with the original vision.

Just like no one would design a building without an architect, we believe bringing in a stone project management consultant will become standard practice for destination-scale developments as stone becomes more widely used across the region.