Overall construction output in Serbia is expected to decline this year, primarily due to the slowdown in civil engineering as several road and railway projects were completed last year. By contrast, non-residential construction has entered a new growth cycle driven by investments connected to hosting Expo 2027 in Belgrade.
The event will be held in a purpose-built exhibition complex on the outskirts of the city, covering around 80 hectares. "Alongside the construction of this complex, numerous public and private investments are indirectly tied to the event, including new hotels, accommodation, leisure, and commercial projects, as well as the reconstruction of museums, cultural heritage sites, and public spaces," says Dejan Krajinović, EECFA's Serbian researcher.
The Expo 2027 complex comprises approximately 230,000 sqm of exhibition pavilions, venues, congress and conference halls, as well as office and retail space. A residential complex with around 1,500 units is being built to house participating delegations. The exhibition will run for 93 days, from 15 May to 15 August 2027, featuring around 130 countries. Total investment could exceed €2.5 billion, with €1.5 billion allocated for the Expo complex and €1 billion for accompanying facilities and infrastructure.
The broader development zone around the Expo 2027 complex extends beyond the exhibition center itself. While the core site covers 80 hectares, total development area exceeds 200 hectares. It will include the new National Stadium complex, a center for aquatic sports, a theme park, recreation facilities, and hotels. The National Stadium alone is a €600 million project, designed with 52,000 permanent seats and capacity to expand by 8,000. Several other public and private developments across Belgrade are linked to the exhibition, including museum reconstructions and new hotels under the Intercontinental and Ritz-Carlton brands.
After the event concludes, the Expo 2027 complex will be repurposed as the new Belgrade Fair Complex. The current fairgrounds in central Belgrade, built in the 1950s, are planned for redevelopment once operations move to the new site. New transport infrastructure, including a railway link to the city center, river dock facilities, and expanded commercial developments, should enhance the location's attractiveness for private investment.
