International Companies Move Regional Headquarters to Saudi Arabia

General view of Riyadh city. (Reuters file photo)
General view of Riyadh city. (Reuters file photo)
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International Companies Move Regional Headquarters to Saudi Arabia

General view of Riyadh city. (Reuters file photo)
General view of Riyadh city. (Reuters file photo)

As Saudi Arabia is seeking to encourage foreign companies to invest in the Kingdom, a survey conducted by Reuters showed that a number of international companies have already started moving their regional headquarters to the Saudi capital, while others have disclosed serious arrangements in this regard.

The Saudi government had informed foreign companies that as of 2024, they can only secure state contracts if they have local offices. The country has also launched economic and social reforms under its Vision 2030 plan to attract investment.

According to the Reuters poll, the US construction firm Bechtel said that it had established its regional headquarters in Riyadh to cover the six member states of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), while the US technology company, CSG, announced that it would move its regional office from Dubai to Riyadh, but it would not close the Dubai office.

Reuters also revealed that German auto supplier Robert Bosch had signed a memorandum of understanding to explore potential business in Saudi Arabia. The company has an office in the Kingdom and a presence elsewhere in the region, including the United Arab Emirates, a spokeswoman for the company was quoted by the agency as saying.

Indian hotel startup Oyo said it would set up its regional headquarters in the Riyadh special economic zone - the King Abdullah Financial District - with several executives relocating there, as reported by Reuters.

The survey also noted that Investment firm Franklin Templeton would monitor the regulations to assess the approach it would follow, but would remain committed to conducting business in the Middle East.

A Deloitte spokeswoman was quoted by Reuters as saying that the company “has been operating in Saudi Arabia since 1950 and we are honored to be a strategic partner for the city on its journey to achieve its ambition under Vision 2030.”

In a statement, PwC’s Saudi Arabia country leader Riyadh Al-Najjar said the company would support the Kingdom’s transformation from its regional consulting headquarters in Riyadh.

Ahmed Jazzar, president of Boeing Saudi Arabia, was quoted by Reuters as saying: “We have over 2,200 people employed by various Boeing entities and joint ventures in the Kingdom. Boeing Saudi Arabia is a Saudi Arabian company with Saudi leadership and majority Saudi employee base. We are committed to the success of Vision 2030.”

Google told Reuters that its cloud computing unit would deploy and operate a Google Cloud region in Saudi Arabia. The technology division of state oil firm Saudi Aramco will establish a local reseller for the services, Google said, adding that the focus will be on serving businesses in the country, according to Reuters’ report.



Saudi Arabia Unveils Pavilion at International Defense Exhibition and Conference in UAE

The Saudi pavilion is showcasing the latest technologies and advanced systems, underscoring the significant progress the Kingdom has made in localizing military industries, in alignment with the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030. (SPA)
The Saudi pavilion is showcasing the latest technologies and advanced systems, underscoring the significant progress the Kingdom has made in localizing military industries, in alignment with the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030. (SPA)
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Saudi Arabia Unveils Pavilion at International Defense Exhibition and Conference in UAE

The Saudi pavilion is showcasing the latest technologies and advanced systems, underscoring the significant progress the Kingdom has made in localizing military industries, in alignment with the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030. (SPA)
The Saudi pavilion is showcasing the latest technologies and advanced systems, underscoring the significant progress the Kingdom has made in localizing military industries, in alignment with the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030. (SPA)

The activities of the Saudi pavilion, organized by the General Authority for Military Industries (GAMI), kicked off on Monday at the International Defense Exhibition and Conference "IDEX 2025" in Abu Dhabi. This event is being held under the patronage of Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the United Arab Emirates.

Governor of GAMI Eng. Ahmad Abdulaziz Al-Ohali participated in the launch, in the presence of Lt.-Gen. Mohammad Bin Abdulrahman bin Hamed Al-Gharibi, Chief of Staff of the Royal Saudi Naval Forces, Sultan bin Abdullah Al-Angari, Saudi ambassador to the UAE, and a number of officials, international investors and decision-makers in the sector.

Al-Ohali emphasized the significance of the Kingdom's participation in IDEX 2025 as a leading global platform for showcasing the latest military technologies.

He underscored the importance of establishing international partnerships that enhance the Kingdom's defense and security capabilities.

The Saudi pavilion serves as a strategic window that reaffirms the Kingdom's commitment to developing its defense sector and strengthening national competencies, contributing to the ambitious goal of localizing over 50% of military spending by 2030, he added.

During the exhibition, GAMI signed a cooperation agreement in the field of government quality assurance with the Defense Acquisition Program Administration in South Korea.

The agreement aims to boost the assurance and reliability of defense products and services carried out under purchasing and acquisition operations, in accordance with the local laws and regulations of both sides.

The agreement reflects the mutual desire of both parties to deepen joint cooperation in the field of defense industry and technology, in a way that achieves the national interests of both countries. The two parties also intend to expand the scope of cooperation by exchanging experiences and best practices in the field of government quality assurance for defense products and services.

The Saudi pavilion is showcasing the latest technologies and advanced systems, underscoring the significant progress the Kingdom has made in localizing military industries, in alignment with the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030.

It is presenting the latest locally developed defense technologies across military, defense, and security industries. It features a variety of military products aimed at highlighting the capabilities of the defense and military sectors. Additionally, it presents investors with a conducive investment environment and the promising opportunities available in the sector.

In addition to GAMI and the General Authority for Defense Development (GADD), the pavilion includes the World Defense Show (WDS), along with several national companies operating in the military industries sector. The companies include the Saudi Arabian Military Industries (SAMI), the National Company for Mechanical Systems (NCMS), the Middle East Propulsion Company (MEPC), the Saudi Chemical Company Holding (SCCH), AlKorayef Group, Life Shield Military Industries (LIFE SHIELD), Emaan International, QUDRA Industrial Company, and the Saudi Company for Aircraft Maintenance and Preparation (GDC).