BRISBANE has become a virtual ghost town as leaders from across the world start arriving today ahead of this weekend's G20 World Leaders Summit.

The normally bustling CBD and Southbank precincts have been abandoned as final security measures and road closures are put into place ahead of the impending arrival of more than 20 world leaders.

The first world leader to touch down on Wednesday was South African President Jacob Zuma who arrived at Brisbane Airport's G20 Terminal shortly after 4am before being whisked away to his accommodation at the Pullman Hotel.

Queensland Premier Campbell Newman, who greeted Mr Zuma, will continue to meet world leaders as they arrive until Prime Minister Tony Abbott returns from the APEC Summit in China.

The G20 Terminal will be abuzz later today and tomorrow when the vast majority of world leaders are expected to touch down.

It is understood Thursday arrivals could include Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah, Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu and Brazil President Dilma Rousseff.

Leaders that are expected to touch down in Brisbane on Friday include Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper, Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, British Prime Minister David Cameron, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Indonesian President Joko Widodo.

Other world leaders expected to arrive tomorrow include South Korea President Park Geun-hye, Burma President Thein Sein and Chinese President Xi Jinping.

United States President Barack Obama and Russian President Vladimir Putin, French President Francois Hollande, Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto, Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi and New Zealand Prime Minister John Key are expected to arrive in Brisbane on Saturday morning.

The G20 Summit will officially begin on Saturday afternoon. 

WHERE THE WORLD LEADERS ARE STAYING

United States President Barack Obama - Marriott Hotel

Russian President Vladimir Putin - Hilton Hotel

British Prime Minister David Cameron - Treasury Hotel

Chinese President Xi Jinping - Stamford Plaza

Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah - Sanctuary Cove

Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott - Rydges Southbank

Burma President Thein Sein - Gambaros

French President Francois Hollande and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi - Sofitel

German Chancellor Angela Merkel - Four Points by Sheraton

Japanese Prime Minster Shinzo Abe - Novotel

South African President Jacob Zuma - Pullman Hotel

Brazil President Dilma Rousseff and South Korea President Park Geun-hye - Royal on the Park