Canadian information management firm OpenText has officially opened its Middle East regional headquarters in Riyadh, a significant move that underscores its long-term commitment to Saudi Arabia and the region’s rapidly growing digital economy. The opening was celebrated with a visit from Canada’s Minister of International Trade and Economic Development, Hon. Maninder Sidhu, and Canadian Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, His Excellency Jean-Philippe Linteau.
A Strategic Hub in KAFD
Located in the prestigious King Abdullah Financial District (KAFD), the new headquarters will function as a central hub for OpenText’s customers and partners across the Middle East. This strategic presence is designed to foster closer collaboration with both government and private sector organizations as they transition from AI experimentation to secure, enterprise-scale deployments.
Aligning with Vision 2030
OpenText’s expansion aligns directly with the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 and its ambitions to become a leader in enterprise AI, cybersecurity, and data-driven growth. As Riyadh emerges as an economic and innovation powerhouse, this move signals confidence in the country’s trajectory. By establishing a local presence, OpenText aims to support Saudi Arabia’s goals while ensuring crucial standards of data sovereignty, trust, and regulatory compliance are met. The company plans to continue expanding its local workforce and building strategic partnerships to develop solutions tailored to the Kingdom’s unique economic diversification goals.
Strengthening Local Expertise and Compliance
The Riyadh headquarters significantly strengthens OpenText’s ability to provide localized expertise and responsive support to its regional clients. A key focus will be helping organizations navigate the evolving landscape of data sovereignty, security protocols, and compliance requirements. This local support is critical for businesses looking to accelerate their digital transformation initiatives and leverage data as a sustainable competitive advantage within the region’s burgeoning knowledge-based economy.
Context on Saudi Arabia’s Digital Surge
OpenText’s investment comes as Saudi Arabia transforms its digital governance at an accelerated pace. The establishment of the Saudi Data and AI Authority (SDAIA) in 2019 and the Digital Government Authority in 2021 laid the institutional groundwork for the National Strategy for Data and AI. This has resulted in measurable progress, with the national Digital Transformation Measurement index for government entities climbing from 69% in 2021 to over 87% in 2024. The Kingdom has also prioritized government data, with its 2024 Open Data Inventory score increasing by approximately 143% since 2017, placing it among the top ten G20 members.
About OpenText
OpenText is an information management company that provides software and services for managing and securing unstructured business information. The company’s solutions help organizations to govern their information, leverage it for business insight, and ensure security and compliance.
Source: Middle East AI News
