SAUDI ARABIA: A GATEWAY TO THE GULF COUNTRIES

A strategic narrative

When international companies weigh where to establish a presence in the Gulf, Saudi Arabia often emerges as the strongest contender not just for its size, but because the Kingdom offers a rare combination of scale, reform, and regional positioning.

From the start, its population of over 35 million, combined with ambitious urban and economic transformation programs under Vision 2030, creates an ecosystem where opportunity meets momentum. Non-oil exports reached unprecedented levels, and global investors are taking notice.

What often seals the deal for many firms is the Regional Headquarters (RHQ) program. Introduced to align with Vision 2030, this initiative effectively makes Riyadh the centerpiece of multinationals' operations across MENA. The rule is straightforward: to access government contracts and full market potential, companies must establish a fully operational regional HQ in Riyadh. As a result, more than 540 multinationals — including Amazon, Google, PwC, Deloitte, and Morgan Stanley are already established (riskadvisory.com, arabnews.com, saudigazette.com, reuters.com).

Saudi Arabia is positioning itself as a strong alternative to traditional Gulf hubs like the UAE or Qatar, especially in light of global shifts. While the UAE pioneered free zones and remains tax-friendly , Saudi Arabia counters with depth bigger urban infrastructure, a young and rapidly growing workforce, and sheer market potential.

The Riyadh metro network, giga-projects like NEOM and the Red Sea Development, and a steadily rising political will to diversify the economy reinforce the case. Even in the MENA region's luxury and service sectors, Riyadh is emerging as a country in transition.

From an implementation perspective, this translates into strategic clarity. For firms asking “Where to start?” Saudi Arabia offers scale, connectivity, and compelling rationale. You're not merely picking a country; you're choosing a regional operational base backed by incentives, policy, and an economy in transition.

And this is precisely where PEAK Ventures adds value. We don’t just help you assess the market – we enable your regional setup. From market diagnostics to legal registration, from partner alignment to HQ certification, we handle the details so your regional ambition doesn’t stall before takeoff.

Saudi Arabia isn’t a market to test — it’s a region to lead from.

This article was written with the assistance of AI.