IBM bolsters its presence in Saudi Arabia with new regional HQ in Riyadh

SAUDI ARABIA – IBM, one of the leading providers of global hybrid cloud, AI, and consulting expertise, has expanded its presence in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia with the opening of its regional headquarters in Riyadh.

Since IBM established its presence in Saudi Arabia in 1947, the company has worked side-by-side with government and enterprise sectors in the Kingdom on multiple projects of national and economic importance.

The global company also invests in talent development and defining the skills needed to support the development agenda of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

In an official statement, Arvind Krishna, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of IBM, said: “Today, we are reinforcing our longstanding commitment to the Kingdom as we inaugurate our regional headquarters in Riyadh.”

Arvind Krishna further said that transformative technologies like hybrid cloud and AI are instrumental in solving the most pressing challenges.

“IBM is helping clients in Saudi Arabia and around the globe reshape their business models and leverage these technologies to increase productivity and drive innovation,” underscored Arvind Krishna.

This infrastructural development comes shortly after Boehringer Ingelheim entered into an agreement with IBM to harness the power of generative artificial intelligence (genAI) and foundation models for advancing therapeutic antibodies.

This exemplifies IBM’s continued exploration of cutting-edge technologies, including quantum computing, to advance the development of innovative medicines.

In recent years, IBM has worked with government, businesses, and partners to help enhance the Kingdom’s tech landscape, including the local digital infrastructure, tech ecosystem, and Saudi talent.

The establishment of IBM’s regional headquarters in Riyadh marks a pivotal moment in the company’s ongoing efforts to bolster the Kingdom’s tech prospects.

Additionally, this launch will extend IBM’s footprint in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the wider region, with the goal of spurring more transformation and innovation.

IBM’s breakthrough innovations in AI, quantum computing, industry-specific cloud solutions, and consulting deliver open and flexible options to Saudi clients.

All of this is backed by IBM’s long-standing commitment to trust, transparency, responsibility, inclusivity, and service.

Consequently, the official opening of the company’s regional HQ in Riyadh came shortly after the Ministry of Investment hosted IBM executives and presented the company with the regional headquarters license.

It is important to note that the Ministry of Investment is facilitating access to these opportunities by developing a vibrant cross-government investment ecosystem, facilitated by Saudi Arabia’s National Investment Strategy.

Held on November 30, 2023, the executive meeting was attended by a range of dignitaries and government officials including His Excellency Khalid Al-Falih, Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Investment, and Arvind Krishna, IBM’s Chairman and CEO.

The launch of the regional headquarters expands IBM’s presence in the Kingdom and reiterates the company’s commitment to accelerating Saudi Arabia’s digital transformation.

In his address, His Excellency Khalid Al-Falih, Minister of Investment of Saudi Arabia, said: “IBM’s decision to establish their regional headquarters in Riyadh is a testament to Saudi Arabia’s success in developing a conducive business environment and ecosystem that complements our world-class ICT infrastructure.”

His Excellency Khalid Al-Falih emphasized the need for additional investments, noting that these investments are key to enabling innovators in the industry to thrive.

“By deepening the presence of leading executives, this sector will play an important role as we strengthen Saudi Arabia’s position as a leader in the global digital transition,” underscored HE Khalid Al-Falih.

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