عربي English Türkçe اردو فارسى
Logo
Latest News
Business

Apple to Expand Significantly in Saudi Arabia

The Apple Inc. logo is seen hanging at the entrance to the Apple store on 5th Avenue in Manhattan, New York, US, October 16, 2019. REUTERS/Mike Segar/File Photo
The Apple Inc. logo is seen hanging at the entrance to the Apple store on 5th Avenue in Manhattan, New York, US, October 16, 2019. REUTERS/Mike Segar/File Photo
TT
TT

Apple to Expand Significantly in Saudi Arabia

The Apple Inc. logo is seen hanging at the entrance to the Apple store on 5th Avenue in Manhattan, New York, US, October 16, 2019. REUTERS/Mike Segar/File Photo
The Apple Inc. logo is seen hanging at the entrance to the Apple store on 5th Avenue in Manhattan, New York, US, October 16, 2019. REUTERS/Mike Segar/File Photo

Apple has unveiled plans for a major expansion in Saudi Arabia, including the launch of an online store in 2025. The company has also outlined ambitions to open additional stores across the Kingdom as part of its long-term strategy.
Apple’s expansion will begin with the introduction of the Apple Store online in the summer of 2025. This new platform will provide Saudi customers access to Apple’s full range of products, along with direct support and services available in Arabic for the first time.
First Flagship Store in Diriyah
According to information obtained by Asharq Al-Awsat, Apple’s flagship retail store in Saudi Arabia is scheduled to open in 2026 in Diriyah, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This location will serve as the centerpiece of Apple’s retail expansion in the Kingdom, offering customers an opportunity to interact with Apple’s products and services while engaging with its team members in an iconic setting.
Apple CEO Tim Cook expressed his excitement about the expansion, saying: “We’re excited to be expanding here in Saudi Arabia with the launch of the Apple Store online next year, and the first of several flagship Apple Store locations starting in 2026, including an iconic store at the stunning site of Diriyah coming later."
He added: “Our teams are looking forward to deepening our connections with customers, and to bringing the best of Apple to help people across this country explore their passions, build their businesses, and take their ideas to the next level.”
Investing in Saudi Arabia’s App Economy
Apple’s retail expansion complements its broader investments in Saudi Arabia. These include the Apple Developer Academy, the first of its kind in the region, which opened in Riyadh in 2021. Established in collaboration with the Saudi government, the academy operates in partnership with Tuwaiq Academy and Princess Nourah Bint Abdulrahman University.
The academy, located on the university’s campus, is exclusively dedicated to training women in programming, design, and entrepreneurship. Since its launch, nearly 2,000 students have completed courses, with many creating applications now available on the App Store for both local and international markets.
Apple has also expanded its educational programs in Saudi Arabia, including hosting its inaugural “Apple Foundation Program” this past summer, which offered students a month-long learning experience.
Boosting Saudi Arabia’s Economy
Apple announced that it will launch the second cohort of its Developer Academy program in the spring of 2025. The company highlighted the role of Saudi developers in driving economic growth, noting that the iOS app economy is generating significant job opportunities and fostering entrepreneurship.
Apple shared that developer earnings in Saudi Arabia have surged by over 1,750% since 2019. The company emphasized its commitment to creating more opportunities in the Kingdom, supporting entrepreneurs, small businesses, and public transport users through advanced technologies.
Over the past five years, Apple has invested more than SAR 10 billion ($2.6 billion) in the Saudi economy through partnerships with local businesses. The company noted that its services have supported enterprises across the country, from small startups to large corporations.
Apple Pay has also gained significant traction in Saudi Arabia since its 2019 launch. Following the opening of the Riyadh Metro, Riyadh became the first Middle Eastern city to adopt Apple Pay’s Express Transit feature, allowing seamless payment for metro and bus services with an iPhone or Apple Watch.
Apple noted that many Saudi users have transitioned entirely to digital payment methods, moving away from physical cards.

 

Most Viewed

 
 
Business

Japan Aims to Dig Deep-sea Rare Earths to Reduce China Dependence

Japan's deep-sea drilling vessel, Chikyu is anchored at a pier in Shimizu port, Shizuoka prefecture on September 11, 2013. TOSHIFUMI KITAMURA / AFP/File
Japan's deep-sea drilling vessel, Chikyu is anchored at a pier in Shimizu port, Shizuoka prefecture on September 11, 2013. TOSHIFUMI KITAMURA / AFP/File
TT
TT

Japan Aims to Dig Deep-sea Rare Earths to Reduce China Dependence

Japan's deep-sea drilling vessel, Chikyu is anchored at a pier in Shimizu port, Shizuoka prefecture on September 11, 2013. TOSHIFUMI KITAMURA / AFP/File
Japan's deep-sea drilling vessel, Chikyu is anchored at a pier in Shimizu port, Shizuoka prefecture on September 11, 2013. TOSHIFUMI KITAMURA / AFP/File

A Japanese research vessel on Monday began a historic voyage to attempt to dig deep-sea rare earths at a depth of 6,000 meters to curb dependence on China.

Scientific drilling boat called the Chikyu left Shimizu Port in Shizuoka around 9:00 am (0000 GMT) for the remote island of Minami Torishima in the Pacific, where surrounding waters are believed to contain a rich trove of valuable minerals.

The test cruise comes as China -- by far the world's biggest supplier of rare earths -- ramps up pressure on its neighbor after Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi suggested in November that Tokyo could react militarily to an attack on Taiwan.

Beijing claims self-ruled Taiwan as part of its territory and has vowed to seize it by force if necessary.

China has long used its dominance in rare earths for geopolitical leverage, including in its trade war with US President Donald Trump's administration.

Chikyu's voyage, delayed by one day due to bad weather, could lead to domestic production of rare earths, said Shoichi Ishii, program director at the Cabinet Office.

"We are considering diversifying our procurement sources and avoiding excessive reliance on specific countries," he told reporters at the port as the ship prepared to leave.

"One approach I believe could be pursued is establishing a process to achieve domestic production of rare earths," he said.

Rare earths -- 17 metals difficult to extract from the Earth's crust -- are used in everything from electric vehicles to hard drives, wind turbines and missiles.

The Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology (JAMSTEC) has touted the test as the world's first at such depths.

The area around Minami Torishima, which is in Japan's economic waters, is estimated to contain more than 16 million tons of rare earths, which the Nikkei business daily says is the third-largest reserve globally.

These rich deposits contain an estimated 730 years' worth of dysprosium, used in high-strength magnets in phones and electric cars, and 780 years' worth of yttrium, used in lasers, Nikkei said.

"If Japan could successfully extract rare earths around Minami Torishima constantly, it will secure domestic supply chain for key industries," Takahiro Kamisuna, research associate at The International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS), told AFP.

"Likewise, it will be a key strategic asset for Takaichi's government to significantly reduce the supply chain dependence on China."

The cruise is scheduled to last until February 14.

Recent media reports said Beijing was delaying Japanese imports as well as rare-earth exports to Tokyo, as their two-month-old spat escalates.

China this month blocked exports to Japan of "dual-use" items with potential military uses, fueling worries in Japan that Beijing could choke supplies of rare earths, some of which are included in China's list of dual-use goods.

Business

Gold, Silver Hit Records After US Probe Targets Fed

FILE - An employee of Pro Aurum gold house lifts 1 Kg silver bars of 999.9 purity besides 1 Kg gold bars in the safe deposit boxes room in Munich, Germany, Friday, April 25, 2025. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader, File)
FILE - An employee of Pro Aurum gold house lifts 1 Kg silver bars of 999.9 purity besides 1 Kg gold bars in the safe deposit boxes room in Munich, Germany, Friday, April 25, 2025. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader, File)
TT
TT

Gold, Silver Hit Records After US Probe Targets Fed

FILE - An employee of Pro Aurum gold house lifts 1 Kg silver bars of 999.9 purity besides 1 Kg gold bars in the safe deposit boxes room in Munich, Germany, Friday, April 25, 2025. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader, File)
FILE - An employee of Pro Aurum gold house lifts 1 Kg silver bars of 999.9 purity besides 1 Kg gold bars in the safe deposit boxes room in Munich, Germany, Friday, April 25, 2025. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader, File)

Gold and silver surged to record highs after the US Justice Department targeted the Federal Reserve in an investigation, fueling fears over the bank's independence and raising demand for safe haven assets.

Gold vaulted toward $4,600 an ounce and silver approached $85 for the first time after Fed chair Jerome Powell warned a potential criminal indictment is part of President Donald Trump's pressure campaign on monetary policy decisions.

Business

Saudi Arabia, Japan Sign Memorandum on Peaceful Use of Space

The Saudi Space Agency signed a memorandum of cooperation with the Japanese government on the peaceful use of outer space. (SPA)
The Saudi Space Agency signed a memorandum of cooperation with the Japanese government on the peaceful use of outer space. (SPA)
TT
TT

Saudi Arabia, Japan Sign Memorandum on Peaceful Use of Space

The Saudi Space Agency signed a memorandum of cooperation with the Japanese government on the peaceful use of outer space. (SPA)
The Saudi Space Agency signed a memorandum of cooperation with the Japanese government on the peaceful use of outer space. (SPA)

The Saudi Space Agency signed a memorandum of cooperation with the Japanese government on the peaceful use of outer space on the sidelines of the Saudi-Japan Ministerial Investment Forum.

The memorandum was signed with Japan’s Cabinet Office, the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, and the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Monday.

Minister of Communications and Information Technology and Chairman of the Board of the Saudi Space Agency Abdullah Alswaha represented the agency during the signing.

The move underscores the Kingdom’s commitment to enhancing international cooperation in peaceful space activities and supporting strategic partnerships in the sector. It aims to establish a framework for cooperation in space science and technology, capacity building, and the exchange of expertise, contributing to the development of the space sector and promoting the peaceful uses of outer space.

The Saudi Space Agency affirmed that the agreement builds on the Kingdom’s ongoing efforts to strengthen international partnerships in the space sector and to play an active role in shaping a global space ecosystem that supports research and innovation and serves humanity.