NEOM Opens London Office as Base for UK, European Business

NEOM has opened its first international office in London, United Kingdom (UK).
NEOM has opened its first international office in London, United Kingdom (UK).
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NEOM Opens London Office as Base for UK, European Business

NEOM has opened its first international office in London, United Kingdom (UK).
NEOM has opened its first international office in London, United Kingdom (UK).

NEOM, the sustainable regional development taking shape in northwest Saudi Arabia, has opened its first international office in London, United Kingdom (UK), which will serve as a base for NEOM’s business across Europe, SPA said on Thursday.
The official opening was led by Saudi Ambassador to the UK Prince Khalid bin Bandar bin Sultan bin Abdulaziz, UK Deputy Prime Minister the Rt Hon Oliver Dowden CBE MP, and NEOM CEO Nadhmi Al-Nasr, who each addressed the distinguished guests and strategic partners in attendance.
The opening of the office—located in Chancery House in the central district of Holborn—represents a major milestone in NEOM’s efforts to expand its international footprint, with many successful partnerships having already been established between NEOM and UK entities. It is anticipated that NEOM’s new local presence will help identify future opportunities for collaboration as well as strengthen existing relationships and accelerate its efforts to address global challenges by redefining livability, business and conservation.
As the first international NEOM office, the UK office will also serve as a base to support NEOM’s business across Europe, building on existing relations with partners, investors, and stakeholders across the continent, and nurturing new ones.
Prince Khalid bin Bandar bin Sultan bin Abdulaziz, the Saudi ambassador to the United Kingdom, said: “NEOM aims to transform how people around the world live and work, and the opening of its office in London provides a platform to introduce the project and its global importance to UK investors, organizations, and innovators who share its vision and ethos. The opening of the office reflects the important role that we believe the UK and its industry leaders will play in contributing to NEOM’s efforts to accelerate human progress and deliver a new future for all.”
The Rt Hon Oliver Dowden CBE MP, deputy prime minister of the United Kingdom, said: “I was delighted to join Prince Khalid bin Bandar Al Saud, Saudi Ambassador to the UK, and the CEO of NEOM, Nadhmi Al-Nasr, to celebrate the opening of NEOM's office in London, which is its first internationally. This is an important milestone, integrating NEOM with London's finance and tech ecosystems, with the potential for London to become NEOM's second home for design and project management, promoting investment and growth across the UK."
Nadhmi Al-Nasr, CEO of NEOM, said: “We believe we must have a global footprint and work with the world’s brightest minds to solve the world’s most pressing challenges. From this standpoint, choosing London to open our first international office fits within the framework of consolidating our presence in the United Kingdom and Europe in general. NEOM has already established many exciting investments and partnerships with UK and European entities, and through this office, we intend to explore further opportunities for collaboration and to promote NEOM’s unique capabilities and investment opportunities.”
Abdallah Alhazani will lead the new NEOM Europe entity as CEO, transitioning from his current role as an executive director of Oxagon, NEOM's center for advanced and clean industries. Prior to that, he served as an executive director of NEOM Investment Fund, NEOM's strategic investment arm.



WTO Chief Calls for Calm amid Mounting Trade War

World Trade Organization (WTO) Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala speaks during the IC Forum at ETH Zurich, Switzerland, 27 February 2025. EPA/TIL BUERGY
World Trade Organization (WTO) Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala speaks during the IC Forum at ETH Zurich, Switzerland, 27 February 2025. EPA/TIL BUERGY
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WTO Chief Calls for Calm amid Mounting Trade War

World Trade Organization (WTO) Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala speaks during the IC Forum at ETH Zurich, Switzerland, 27 February 2025. EPA/TIL BUERGY
World Trade Organization (WTO) Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala speaks during the IC Forum at ETH Zurich, Switzerland, 27 February 2025. EPA/TIL BUERGY

The WTO chief called for calm Friday in the face of a swelling global trade war as US President Donald Trump slaps steep tariffs against friends and foes alike.

"I understand the enormous amount of concerns that people have about what is going on," Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala told a meeting at the World Trade Organization headquarters, insisting though that "we shouldn't panic.”

She downplayed fears that the new US administration, which has been harshly critical of WTO, might decide to withdraw, as it has done from the World Health Organization and other UN bodies.

Just back from Washington, where she met with US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, Okonjo-Iweala said "the indications I got is that they remain part of WTO.”

"They want to remain engaged," she told the event, adding that this could "give us room to (be)... I don't want to use the word hopeful, but I think it gives us room to believe that the US still find some value in being able to engage with other members at the WTO.”

"That is one of the reasons I think we should keep calm, we should listen to their concerns," she said.

Since his return to office in January, Trump has introduced sweeping levies against several top US trading partners.

Even though tensions eased a notch on Thursday, after the United States hit pause on the 25-percent tariffs it slapped earlier this week on most goods coming from Mexico and Canada, the standoff with China continues.

The European Union is also in the crosshairs, with Trump threatening the bloc with 25-percent levies, while also signing plans for sweeping "reciprocal tariffs" that could hit both allies and adversaries alike by April 2.

According to AFP, Okonjo-Iweala acknowledged during Friday's event, attended among others by former German chancellor Angela Merkel, that "what is happening now with the tariffs ... is challenging for the system.”

It is "a difficult moment,” she acknowledged, but added: "I will not agree that the system is in chaos or in turmoil.”

"Although the United States is very, very important for world trade, and of course sets a signal," she highlighted that "there is 80 percent of world trade going on among other members of the WTO.”

Other members are "trading among themselves according to the rules that exist," she said. "They should continue to do so."