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Lenovo Chooses Riyadh as Regional Operations Hub

Tareq Alangari, Lenovo Senior Vice President and President for the Middle East, Türkiye and Africa. (Turki Al-Aqail)
Tareq Alangari, Lenovo Senior Vice President and President for the Middle East, Türkiye and Africa. (Turki Al-Aqail)
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Lenovo Chooses Riyadh as Regional Operations Hub

Tareq Alangari, Lenovo Senior Vice President and President for the Middle East, Türkiye and Africa. (Turki Al-Aqail)
Tareq Alangari, Lenovo Senior Vice President and President for the Middle East, Türkiye and Africa. (Turki Al-Aqail)

Global technology company Lenovo has inaugurated its regional headquarters in Riyadh, after investing more than 2 billion riyals ($532 million) in the Saudi economy, underscoring the Kingdom’s growing role as a regional technology and industrial hub.

The move goes beyond establishing an administrative base. Lenovo plans to build one of its largest integrated manufacturing centers worldwide through a partnership with Alat, a subsidiary of Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF).

The company aims to reshape regional supply chains and produce devices labeled “Made in Saudi Arabia” for markets across the Middle East, Africa and Türkiye, capitalizing on the Kingdom’s favorable investment environment and rapid economic transformation.

Tareq Alangari, Lenovo Senior Vice President and President for the Middle East, Türkiye and Africa, said Saudi Arabia plays a “significant and strategic role” in the company’s regional strategy.

He told Asharq Al-Awsat that initiatives such as the Regional Headquarters Program, alongside close cooperation with government partners, have created a business environment that supports regional coordination and long-term investment.

Lenovo has invested nearly 2 billion riyals ($532 million) in Saudi Arabia so far, with plans for further expansion.

The investments include the newly opened regional headquarters, a manufacturing facility due for completion by the end of 2026, and plans for a research and development center and a customer experience center. The company is also investing in Saudi talent.

As part of that effort, 28 Saudi engineers have completed training in China under a smart manufacturing graduate program and have returned to take up leadership engineering roles at Lenovo’s local operations.

Alangari said the factory, expected to begin commercial operations by the end of this year, is in the final stages of operational and logistical readiness, including equipment installation, technical testing, and supply chain alignment.

“We will scale up production capacity in phases, in line with operational readiness and market demand,” he stated.

Saudi Investment Minister Fahad Al-Saif, who attended the launch, said Lenovo’s decision reflects the strength of the Saudi economy and the attractiveness of its investment climate.

He described the move as a successful example of the Regional Headquarters Program, which aims to attract multinational companies and enable them to manage and expand regional operations from Saudi Arabia.

Al-Saif said Lenovo is building an integrated presence in the Saudi market in cooperation with national entities, supporting regional growth and meeting global demand through a system that combines decision-making, logistics and an enabling investment environment.

He added that the company’s expansion includes developing research and development programs and skills training, as well as establishing a manufacturing platform with a capacity of up to 8 million units annually. The project is expected to create skilled jobs and support the localization of technology and industry.

Built on a 200,000-square-meter site in Riyadh Integrated and developed in partnership with Alat, the facility will produce millions of devices under the “Made in Saudi Arabia” label.

With total investment reaching $2 billion, the factory will strengthen Lenovo’s global manufacturing network, which includes more than 30 plants worldwide.

The new hub is expected to improve supply chain efficiency and bring Lenovo closer to customers in the Middle East and Africa, enabling faster delivery and reinforcing Saudi Arabia’s position as a regional center for industry and technology.

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Business

G7 Trade Talks Target Critical Minerals as US-EU Tariff Rift Strains Unity

(L-R): EU commissioner for trade and economic security Maros Sefcovic, German Economy and Energy Minister Katarina Reiche, British State Secretary in charge of Trade Peter Kyle, US representative for Trade Jamieson Greer, French minister for trade Nicolas Forissier, Canadian state secretary in charge of international trade Maninder Sidhu, Italian Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Maria Tripodi and Japanese Foreign Affairs delegate Minister Iwao Horii and Japanese Economy and Trade Minister Ryosei Akazawa prepare to pose for a group picture during the G7 Trade ministerial meeting in Paris, France, 06 May 2026. EPA/CHRISTOPHE PETIT TESSON / POOL
(L-R): EU commissioner for trade and economic security Maros Sefcovic, German Economy and Energy Minister Katarina Reiche, British State Secretary in charge of Trade Peter Kyle, US representative for Trade Jamieson Greer, French minister for trade Nicolas Forissier, Canadian state secretary in charge of international trade Maninder Sidhu, Italian Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Maria Tripodi and Japanese Foreign Affairs delegate Minister Iwao Horii and Japanese Economy and Trade Minister Ryosei Akazawa prepare to pose for a group picture during the G7 Trade ministerial meeting in Paris, France, 06 May 2026. EPA/CHRISTOPHE PETIT TESSON / POOL
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G7 Trade Talks Target Critical Minerals as US-EU Tariff Rift Strains Unity

(L-R): EU commissioner for trade and economic security Maros Sefcovic, German Economy and Energy Minister Katarina Reiche, British State Secretary in charge of Trade Peter Kyle, US representative for Trade Jamieson Greer, French minister for trade Nicolas Forissier, Canadian state secretary in charge of international trade Maninder Sidhu, Italian Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Maria Tripodi and Japanese Foreign Affairs delegate Minister Iwao Horii and Japanese Economy and Trade Minister Ryosei Akazawa prepare to pose for a group picture during the G7 Trade ministerial meeting in Paris, France, 06 May 2026. EPA/CHRISTOPHE PETIT TESSON / POOL
(L-R): EU commissioner for trade and economic security Maros Sefcovic, German Economy and Energy Minister Katarina Reiche, British State Secretary in charge of Trade Peter Kyle, US representative for Trade Jamieson Greer, French minister for trade Nicolas Forissier, Canadian state secretary in charge of international trade Maninder Sidhu, Italian Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Maria Tripodi and Japanese Foreign Affairs delegate Minister Iwao Horii and Japanese Economy and Trade Minister Ryosei Akazawa prepare to pose for a group picture during the G7 Trade ministerial meeting in Paris, France, 06 May 2026. EPA/CHRISTOPHE PETIT TESSON / POOL

Group of Seven trade ministers meeting in Paris on Wednesday sought common ground on securing critical mineral supplies that are dominated by China, but fresh US tariff threats against European Union-made cars risked straining unity.

France wants critical minerals supplies to be among the most concrete deliverables during its G7 presidency as ministers prepare for a leaders' summit in mid-June, Foreign Trade Minister Nicolas Forissier ‌said as ‌he arrived for talks.

"I believe we will ‌make ⁠very concrete progress ⁠on rare earths and critical minerals, securing our supply chains and ensuring we are not held hostage by certain countries," he said.

Officials involved in the discussions said there was broad agreement on the need to reduce reliance on China, but significant differences remained about how to do so, said Reuters.

G7 unity is also being ⁠tested by comments from US President Donald Trump, who ‌said Washington would raise tariffs on ‌EU-made cars to 25% from 15%, arguing that Brussels was ‌not complying with a trade deal that was agreed upon ‌in Turnberry, Scotland, last year.

German Economy Minister Katherina Reiche said that she was in intensive talks with US officials over the tariffs. Germany's export-dependent automotive sector has already been under strain from weakening demand in China, ‌slower global growth and higher input and labor costs.

EU Trade Commissioner Maros Sefcovic said he and ⁠US Trade Representative ⁠Jamieson Greer had discussed the Turnberry agreement at a meeting in Paris on Tuesday and that he would be heading to the European Parliament, where negotiations on EU legislation related to the trade deal will take place later on Wednesday.

"We both clearly concluded that it's important to respect the deal from Turnberry from both sides, so we have to deliver on what was promised in Scotland," Sefcovic said.

The trade ministers are also expected to discuss industrial overcapacity - China being the main source - and reform of the World Trade Organization, Forissier said.

Business

Gulf Markets Higher as US-Iran Ceasefire Holds

An investor watches a stock screen at the Saudi Stock Exchange in Riyadh (AFP)
An investor watches a stock screen at the Saudi Stock Exchange in Riyadh (AFP)
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Gulf Markets Higher as US-Iran Ceasefire Holds

An investor watches a stock screen at the Saudi Stock Exchange in Riyadh (AFP)
An investor watches a stock screen at the Saudi Stock Exchange in Riyadh (AFP)

Saudi Arabia's ⁠benchmark stock ⁠index rose 0.4% on Wednesday, with most constituents trading in positive territory. Gains were led by information technology, materials and healthcare stocks.

Saudi Arabian Mining Co added 4.5%, while Arabian Mills for Food Products surged 8% after reporting a 32% rise in first-quarter net profit.

US President Donald Trump said he would briefly pause an operation escorting ships through the Strait of Hormuz, a key waterway that carries about a fifth of global oil supplies and has been blockaded by Iran since late February, triggering a global energy crisis.

So the fragile US-Iran ceasefire held firm despite a fresh flare-up in tensions, allowing investors to turn their attention back to corporate earnings.

Dubai's benchmark stock index rose 1.5%, rebounding from losses in the previous session.

Among individual stocks, blue-chip developer Emaar Properties gained 1.7%, while Dubai's largest lender, Emirates NBD, added 1.5%.

The Abu Dhabi benchmark index advanced 0.5%, with most constituents trading higher. ⁠Gains were led by utilities, healthcare and technology shares.

Presight AI Holding jumped 5%, while Alpha Dhabi climbed 2.3%.

The Qatari benchmark index edged up 0.3%, as most stocks traded higher. Industries Qatar gained 0.7%, while Qatar Fuel Co added 0.6%.

Business

Saudi Non-Oil Private Sector Defies ‘Hormuz Winds’, Regains Growth Momentum

A commercial street in Riyadh (AFP) 
A commercial street in Riyadh (AFP) 
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Saudi Non-Oil Private Sector Defies ‘Hormuz Winds’, Regains Growth Momentum

A commercial street in Riyadh (AFP) 
A commercial street in Riyadh (AFP) 

Saudi Arabia’s non-oil private sector posted a notable positive shift in April 2026, regaining growth momentum despite escalating geopolitical pressures and disruptions to international shipping routes — described as the “winds of Hormuz” — that affected supply chains and market expectations.

The Riyad Bank Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) rose to 51.5 points, surpassing the neutral 50-point mark. The recovery reflected companies’ ability to increase output levels in response to an influx of new business and progress on existing projects, despite continuing geopolitical challenges in the region and ongoing global supply chain disruptions that continued to weigh on customer spending decisions.

In this context, Riyad Bank Chief Economist Naif Alghaith said the results confirmed that the non-oil sector remained on a constructive and resilient trajectory, supporting the strategic goals of economic diversification under Saudi Vision 2030.

He added that the return of the index to expansion territory demonstrated that underlying business conditions remained fundamentally strong, with domestic demand and purchasing power offsetting the noticeable weakness in export orders. This, he noted, highlighted the growing importance of the Kingdom’s domestic economic engine in reducing reliance on external cycles.

Operationally, April saw a rapid and unprecedented increase in cost burdens, with input prices rising at the fastest pace since the survey began in August 2009. Sharp increases in raw material prices, shipping costs and logistics expenses resulting from regional disruptions pushed companies to implement near-record increases in selling prices in an effort to pass costs on to customers.

Alghaith said supply chain dynamics remained a key area of focus, particularly as delivery times continued to lengthen, prompting companies to adopt proactive behavior by increasing inventories as a precautionary measure to ensure business continuity.

Although the pace of overall business expansion remained slow by historical standards due to investor and customer caution surrounding the conflict in the Middle East, future expectations remained optimistic. The survey showed an improvement in business confidence regarding activity over the next 12 months, driven by long-term expansion prospects and major domestic infrastructure projects.

Alghaith said the Kingdom’s stable and robust economic fundamentals positioned it strongly to sustain long-term growth and stability, adding that optimism and strong domestic demand continued to reinforce confidence in Saudi Arabia’s economic transformation path.

For his part, Osama bin Ghanem Al-Obaidy, adviser and professor of commercial law, told Asharq Al-Awsat that the rise in the Purchasing Managers’ Index reflected the ability of Saudi companies to deal with the Strait of Hormuz crisis and its repercussions on the economy and global supply chains.

He said the improvement was driven by increased domestic demand, national economic diversification programs, Vision 2030 projects and infrastructure development, as well as stronger purchasing activity, reflecting the growing positive momentum of the Kingdom’s non-oil economic activities.

Al-Obaidy added that the improvement came despite mounting cost pressures resulting from higher raw material prices, transportation costs and rising wages.