Giordano International, one of the world’s major international apparel retailers, has intensified its investment in the Middle East with the establishment of Giordano Middle East Free Zone Establishment at the Jebel Ali Free Zone.
Giordano Middle East FZE, a 100 percent subsidiary of Giordano International, will continue to provide strategic support, logistics, and management to Giordano’s franchise partners across the region and will lead Giordano’s expansion outside Asia and the development of its international franchising.
The announcement came as Giordano International Chairman Peter Lau, made a visit to the UAE from the company’s global headquarters in Hong Kong. Lau’s visit signifies the company’s confidence in the region as an engine for driving global growth. As well as touring the new facility in Jebel Ali, Lau met with the Middle East team and visited Giordano stores in the UAE.
Lau said: “We look at the UAE, and fully appreciate the importance of our operations in the Middle East and its contribution to the group. Giordano International’s operation in the UAE has managed to expand our brand into 23 countries across the Middle East, India, Africa, Central Asia and Eastern Europe.
Ishwar Chugani, MD, Giordano Middle East FZE, said: “We are delighted to welcome Lau to the UAE and to have the opportunity to showcase our operations, our stores and our people here in the region. Next year, we will celebrate 20 years in the region and the establishment of the new Logistics and Distribution Centre in Jebel Ali will be the next chapter. We look forward to more fruitful years for Giordano Middle East FZE as a key player in the apparel retail industry.”
This new operation in UAE will enable Giordano to identify, nurture and develop new customers and partners in developing countries and regions across the globe.
Giordano International sets up logistics hub in the UAE
Giordano International sets up logistics hub in the UAE
Saudi Arabia ranks 2nd globally in digital government, World Bank 2025 Index shows
WASHINGTON: Saudi Arabia has achieved a historic milestone by securing second place worldwide in the 2025 GovTech Maturity Index released by the World Bank.
The announcement was made on Thursday during a press conference in Washington, DC, which evaluated 197 countries.
The Kingdom excelled across all sub-indicators, earning a 99.64 percent overall score and placing it in the “Very Advanced” category.
It achieved a score of 99.92 percent in the Core Government Systems Index, 99.90 percent in the Public Service Delivery Index, 99.30 percent in the Digital Citizen Engagement Index, and 99.50 percent in the Government Digital Transformation Enablers Index, reflecting some of the highest global scores.
This includes outstanding performance in digital infrastructure, core government systems, digital service delivery, and citizen engagement, among the highest globally.
Ahmed bin Mohammed Al-Suwaiyan, governor of the Digital Government Authority, attributed this achievement to the unwavering support of the Saudi leadership, strong intergovernmental collaboration, and effective public-private partnerships.
He highlighted national efforts over recent years to re-engineer government services and build an advanced digital infrastructure, which enabled Saudi Arabia to reach this global standing.
Al-Suwaiyan emphasized that the Digital Government Authority continues to drive innovation and enhance the quality of digital services, in line with Saudi Vision 2030, supporting the national economy and consolidating the Kingdom’s transformation goals.
The 2025 GTMI data reflects Saudi Arabia’s excellence across key areas, including near-perfect scores in core government systems, public service delivery, digital citizen engagement, and government digital transformation enablers. This balanced performance places the Kingdom firmly in the “Grade A” classification for very advanced countries, demonstrating the maturity of its digital government ecosystem.
Saudi Arabia’s progress in the index has been remarkable: from 49th place in the 2020 edition, to third in 2022, and now second in 2025, confirming its status as a global leader in digital transformation and innovation.
The achievement also reflects the Kingdom’s focus on putting people at the center of digital transformation, enhancing user experience, improving government efficiency, and integrating artificial intelligence and emerging technologies across public services.
