Huawei opens first flagship store in Saudi Arabia

The official opening was attended by Deputy Governor of Investments for SAGIA Sultan Mufti, Chinese Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Li Huaxin, C-level executives from Huawei and members of the media.
Updated 08 January 2019
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Huawei opens first flagship store in Saudi Arabia

Huawei Tech Investment Saudi Arabia has inaugurated its first store in the Kingdom, which opened at Riyadh Park Mall in the capital city. It is the largest store in the Middle East and Africa region. The official opening was attended by Deputy Governor of Investments for Saudi Arabian General Investment Authority (SAGIA) Sultan Mufti, Chinese Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Li Huaxin, C-level executives from Huawei and members of the media. 

Mufti said: “Huawei is a great example to all foreign companies investing in the Kingdom. They have exhausted many efforts toward providing the best that information technology and communications services has to offer, as well as contribute toward the development of the ICT infrastructure in accordance with the highest global standards for quality and security. They also work to develop our local Saudi talent through their training initiatives like the STEP program for enabling Saudi talent, which aims to train 10,000 male and female candidates by the year 2020.”

Mufti added: “We at SAGIA appreciate the role foreign investment plays and the importance of developing the ICT sector in the Kingdom through global partnerships like the partnership we have with Huawei.”  Ambassador Huaxin said: “This opening today proves Huawei’s commitment to continue providing the highest level of services to the people of Saudi Arabia. Chinese companies abroad are interested today in linking their strategy to the development of the markets they operate in. It also takes care of their social responsibility, for example, in sharing technology expertise and adopting local talent, and Huawei is certainly one of them.”

Bill Yu, vice president of Huawei Tech Investment Saudi Arabia, said: “This flagship store launches at a time in which consumers here are asking for more innovative flagship products from Huawei.”

He added: “In order to provide an advanced and classy shopping experience for our customers in Saudi Arabia, we have brought and adopted the latest retail systems in our stores in Saudi Arabia, which will provide a new experience that includes intelligent storage, online ordering, home delivery and off-site payment as well as a slew of other services which will take our customer service experience to the next level.”

Huawei is expecting its new retail system will create around 100 job opportunities and training for Saudis over the next five years. It will also hold training courses in multiple technology areas that will benefit more than 360 people a year. At the same time, it will invest over $6 million in the new retail system in Saudi Arabia over the next five years and will collaborate with its partners in the Kingdom to enhance the experience associated with retail sales in the Saudi market.


Al-Saedan launches $400m investment platform for real estate, digital infrastructure

Updated 27 January 2026
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Al-Saedan launches $400m investment platform for real estate, digital infrastructure

Al-Saedan Real Estate Company of Saudi Arabia, in collaboration with Serpentine Lake Capital of the UK and SGI Real Estate of Canada, have announced the establishment of a joint development and investment platform under the name SL Property. The platform will develop commercial, residential, and hospitality projects, alongside infrastructure and data center projects, across the Kingdom. It reflects the growing international interest in Saudi Arabia’s real estate and digital infrastructure markets and supports the development of high-quality, long-term assets within the Kingdom.

The agreement signing ceremony was held under the patronage of Minister of Municipal, Rural Affairs and Housing and Chairman of the Real Estate General Authority Majid bin Abdullah Al-Hogail, as part of the Future of Real Estate Forum, in which Al-Saedan Real Estate participated as a strategic sponsor. The ceremony was attended by Dr. Badr bin Ibrahim bin Saedan, chairman of the board of Al-Saedan Real Estate; Ahmed bin Ibrahim bin Saedan, vice chairman of the board of Al-Saedan Real Estate; Ben Mikola, representative of Serpentine Lake Capital and SL Property; and Hassan Al-Shawwa, representative of SGI Canada.

The attendance reflects the strategic importance of the initiative and the continued support of the authority in facilitating the attraction of high-quality international investments into the Kingdom’s real estate and digital infrastructure sectors.

This development follows the issuance of the Regulation on Real Estate Ownership by Non-Saudis in Saudi Arabia, which came into effect in January. The updated regulatory framework is expected to expand access to international investment, facilitate foreign investor participation in strategic sectors, and increase the depth of institutional capital flowing into the real estate, infrastructure, and data center sectors in the Kingdom.

The platform is targeting initial joint investments of SR1.5 billion ($400 million) in partnership with Al-SaedanReal Estate, representing the first phase of a broader, multi-stage investment program. In its initial phase, SL Property — Al-Saedan intends to invest in six to eight projects across real estate, infrastructure, and data centers, with additional opportunities anticipated as the platform’s activities expand in the future.

The initial projects will be concentrated in Riyadh and Jeddah, and will include mixed-use developments, commercial assets, residential projects, and infrastructure related to data centers. These projects are designed to be scalable, sustainable, and aligned with national development priorities, including housing expansion, enhancement of urban quality of life, hospitality sector growth, and strengthening the Kingdom’s digital services capabilities.

Al-Saedan Real Estate is one of the oldest private real estate development companies in Saudi Arabia, with more than 80 years of operational experience and a strong track record that includes the development of seven major integrated urban communities, in addition to numerous commercial, hospitality, and associated infrastructure projects.

The SL Property platform will serve as a dedicated investment vehicle for this initiative, with Serpentine Lake Capital contributing its asset management expertise, and SGI Real Estate providing its specialized real estate sector experience. The platform’s structure is intended to combine local development capabilities with disciplined international investment practices and robust governance standards.

This initiative aligns with the Kingdom’s economic diversification objectives and reflects growing confidence in the updated regulatory framework governing the real estate and digital infrastructure sectors. As the platform evolves, it is expected to provide both local and international investors with access to high-quality investment opportunities across the real estate and data center sectors throughout the Kingdom.

Dr. Badr bin Ibrahim said: “At Al-Saedan, we are pleased to be among the first beneficiaries of the promising new foreign investment system. Following our success in raising several local investment funds, we look forward to expanding our expertise and partnerships at a global level.”

Mikola added: “We are pleased to partner with Al-Saedan, whose strong track record provides a solid foundation for this collaboration. As the platform develops, we expect to explore opportunities to expand into real estate and infrastructure projects within the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and beyond. The Kingdom represents a fast-growing market driven by clear structural factors, and we look forward to developing high-potential opportunities through a disciplined and focused approach.”