SAS, a global leader in data and AI, has officially opened its new Middle East and North Africa (MENA) Regional Headquarters in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The significant expansion was announced during the company’s flagship regional event, SAS Innovate on Tour, which gathered senior government officials, industry leaders, and technology experts to discuss the future of AI and analytics in the region.
A Strategic Move Aligned With Vision 2030
The establishment of the Riyadh headquarters reinforces SAS’s long-standing presence in Saudi Arabia and signals a deepened commitment to the region’s digital transformation agenda. This strategic investment is designed to support governments and enterprises across MENA in leveraging advanced analytics and AI to drive innovation, enhance operational efficiency, and achieve sustainable growth, directly aligning with the goals of Saudi Vision 2030.
“Saudi Arabia is rapidly emerging as a hub for innovation and digital transformation. By establishing our regional headquarters in Riyadh, we are positioning ourselves at the heart of this growth,” said Alexander Tikhonov, Regional Director for the Middle East, Türkiye & Africa at SAS. “Our investment underscores SAS’s belief in the Kingdom’s potential and our commitment to supporting Vision 2030.”
A Hub for Regional Collaboration and Innovation
The new headquarters will serve as a central hub for the company’s regional operations, housing its leadership, consulting, innovation, and customer engagement teams. This consolidation is expected to foster stronger collaboration with local partners and clients across key sectors, including banking, government, energy, utilities, and telecommunications. Mohammed Kiki, Country Manager for SAS in Saudi Arabia, added that the Riyadh office will be pivotal for knowledge sharing, skills development, and fostering regional partnerships.
Driving Innovation Through Global Investment
This regional expansion is part of a broader $1 billion, three-year global investment plan announced by SAS in 2023. The strategy focuses on customer success, strategic partnerships, and nurturing innovation. At the SAS Innovate on Tour event, the company highlighted its latest developments in trusted generative AI tools, synthetic data generation, Viya Copilots, and digital twin technology for manufacturing. The discussions emphasized implementing responsible AI practices grounded in trust, transparency, and governance to shape the future of decision-making.
About SAS
SAS is a global leader in AI and analytics software. The company provides a comprehensive suite of solutions that help organizations transform data into intelligence. By embedding AI capabilities into its software, SAS empowers customers across various industries to make better, faster decisions, drive innovation, and improve performance.
Source: Gulf Business
