Mipim 2025: Five major real estate projects from around the world seeking investment

The pavilions are up, the stages are set and the brochures are printed, but what investment opportunities lie within the pages of those brochures?

CoStar News explores some of the major real estate projects being exhibited at this year's conference, including the development of the world's largest single-built structure and the reworking of an iconic football stadium and surrounding area.

Ahead of the 2034 FIFA World Cup in Saudi Arabia, the New Murabba Stadium in Riyadh is one of the investment opportunities being presented by New Murabba Company as part of the Invest Saudi delegation at this year's Mipim conference.

The stadium, which will hold 45,000 spectators and is set to open in 2032, has been flagged by the company, which is part of sovereign wealth fund Public Investment Fund, as as opportunity for European investors to diversify their real estate portfolios in the Middle East.

Alongside the stadium, which developers say is "inspired by the layered overlapping planes and peeling planar texture of the native acacia tree", a mixed-use skyscraper, called The Mukaab, or cube, is set to become the world's largest single-built structure.

The Mukaab will provide around 21.5 million square feet of floor space comprising 100,000 residential units, 9,000 hotel rooms and circa 300,000 square metres of retail and entertainment space.

Fahad Al Hashem, assistant deputy minister of investment development at the Ministry of Investment Saudi Arabia, said in a statement ahead of Mipim: "As we gear up to host global events including Riyadh Expo 2030 and the FIFA World Cup 2034, there is a unique opportunity to integrate innovative, sustainable designs with cultural preservation.

"The Saudi Arabia of the future will celebrate the country’s heritage while embracing cutting edge technology and sustainable building practices that align with our long-term vision – and the opportunities for global investors to be part of it are endless."

French football champions PSG will play table-topping Liverpool on the Tuesday night of Mipim, but another Premier League team from the North West of England is in Cannes this week to score a property investment victory.

On the same day, Manchester United Football Club released images and more details on its plan to upgrade its famous Old Trafford stadium as the "catalyst for social and economic renewal of the surrounding area" with the city council. Foster and Partners has been appointed to design the stadium district.

The stadium would seat 100,000 and will sit at the centre of the regeneration of Trafford Park, the area surrounding the arena, which also has large swathes of industrial real estate.

Lord Norman Foster, the founder and executive chairman, Foster and Partners, said: “The stadium is contained by a vast umbrella, harvesting energy and rainwater, and sheltering a new public plaza that is twice the size of Trafalgar Square. The outward-looking stadium will be the beating heart of a new sustainable district, which is completely walkable, served by public transport, and endowed by nature. It is a mixed-use miniature city of the future – driving a new wave of growth and creating a global destination that Mancunians can be proud of.”

Analysis by the club suggests its stadium redevelopment could deliver an extra £7.3 billion gross value added to the UK economy and more than 90,000 employment opportunities.

The UK government has already thrown its weight behind the wider regeneration project, with Chancellor Rachel Reeves championing it as “a shining example” of the government’s plans to promote economic growth.

Former Olympian Lord Sebastian Coe, chairman of Old Trafford Regeneration Task Force, and Collette Roche, the team's chief operating officer, are both on the French Riviera this week to discuss the project.

Described as Seoul's "last remaining, large-scale, long-term vacant site", Seoul Metropolitan Government has big plans to redevelop the former Yongsan train maintenance depot into a multi-complex international business district.

South Korea's Yongsan Business District covers a 495,000-square-metre land parcel on the north bank of the Han River and is split into three zones, including the International Business Zone for offices, Business Complex Zone with business support facilities, and the Business Support Zone, for residential and cultural use, as well as some offices

The project, being exhibited by Invest Seoul in Cannes, is a partnership between the national railway operator, the local government and Seoul Housing & Communities Corp, a leading residential developer.

At the centre of YBD are plans for a 100-storey "Landmark Skyscraper" building and an 80-storey tower in the International Business Zone for prime workspace. The Business Complex Zone and the Business Support zones will also have 60-storey and 40-storey buildings.

The business district, costing tens of billions of pounds, will also have a 1.1 kilometre pedestrian sky bridge, called the Sky Trail, that will link several buildings at the 45th floor level. Construction is due to begin in the second half of this year and finish in 2028.

In Wales, Cardiff Capital Region is promoting Atlantic Wharf, a £1 billion gross development value mixed-use regeneration scheme near Cardiff city centre.

The project is set to deliver around 1.2 million square feet of mixed-use accommodation including a £250 million multi-purpose arena to be delivered and operated by entertainment giant Live Nation.

The 15,000-seater arena is a partnership between it, Cardiff Council and Oak View Group, with Robertson Group appointed as developers. Construction on the project will start shortly ahead of an expected opening in 2027.

Along with the delivery of the arena, Phase One of the wider masterplan will deliver a hotel and a multistorey car park with 900 spaces. More than 1,500 new homes and 500,000 square feet of offices will be developed during later stages.

CCR chair Mary Ann Brocklesby said in a statement: "I am delighted to see South East Wales represented on the international stage of MIPIM once again.

"Our presence shows we are serious about our ambitions and the critical role that inward investment plays to drive inclusive growth and prosperity, in collaboration with the private sector."

Earls Court is Central London’s largest development opportunity and will be one of the largest investment opportunities at Mipim this year.

Plans for the £8.5 billion gross development value project include 4,000 homes, 2.9 million square feet of workspace and three anchor cultural venues. It will also create 20 acres of public open space and connect three stations.

The 44-acre West London site, which hosted the famous Earls Court Exhibition Centres until they were demolished a decade ago, has been identified as an Opportunity Area by the Mayor of London, meaning it is seen as an area which will be important in the delivery of future homes and jobs in the city.

Earls Court Development Company submitted a hybrid planning application in July for the scheme on behalf of the Earls Court Partnership Limited, a joint venture between Delancey, the Dutch pension fund manager APG and Transport for London.

Sadiq Khan is in Cannes this year seeking investment in £22 billion of schemes, including Earls Court -–all 20 of which are set out in the Opportunity London brochure, read more here. He said in a statement: "London is not only the greatest city in the world but also the greatest city in the world to invest in.

"I'm attending the Mipim property conference to bang the drum for London, seeking new investment for the capital to help us accelerate the delivery of affordable homes and unlock new infrastructure and jobs in our city.

(Article amended on 12 March 2025 to reflect World Cup is in 2034)