UAE’s legaltech startup Clara launches office in Kingdom

Seated from left, Lee McMahon, co-founder; Ahmed Arif, co-founder; Abdullah Alnashwan, Saudi Arabia country manager; and Patrick Rogers, CEO and co-founder.
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Updated 14 June 2023
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UAE’s legaltech startup Clara launches office in Kingdom

Clara, the legal technology company that digitizes and automates legal tasks for founders, is expanding its regional presence with the opening of an office in Riyadh.

Clara enables startups to concentrate on developing their businesses rather than becoming mired in legal paperwork. Clara’s category-creating legal operating system digitizes and automates legal tasks for founders, including digital company formations, cap table and data room management and automated legal document generation (covering SAFEs, ESOPs and more), all supported by the platform’s predictive education function.

Clara’s formal entry into the Middle East’s biggest market underlines its commitment to its existing customers and partners in the country. The company launched in 2019 in the UAE and has since expanded its operations to a number of countries including the US and the UK.

“We are incredibly excited to be moving closer to our rapidly expanding Saudi customer base, as well as our blue-chip roster of accelerator, venture builder and law firm partners in the Kingdom. Clara’s digital infrastructure will continue to provide the foundation for the country’s innovators to achieve Saudi’s Vision 2030 goals,” said Patrick Rogers, CEO and co-founder of Clara.

The announcement also coincides with Clara’s appointment of Abdullah Alnashwan as the company’s country manager for Saudi Arabia.

Commenting on Clara’s move into Saudi Arabia, Alnashwan said: “Hundreds of Saudi founders are already using Clara to form, manage and scale their startups. I am thrilled to be joining Clara at this exciting time in the company’s development as we formalize our commitment to the Saudi startup ecosystem.”

Alnashwan brings deep local market experience to the role, having previously worked and trained in investment roles with Jada Fund of Funds and the Public Investment Fund, two of the country’s leading investors. He studied at Riyadh’s King Faisal School, followed by undertaking a B.Sc in electrical engineering at UCLA and executive education at University of California, Berkeley, Haas School of Business.

Under Alnashwan’s local management, the company plans to quickly scale up its operations in the country. Clara’s Riyadh office launch event was held in collaboration with BIM Ventures, a Saudi venture studio, which builds successful, sustainable enterprises from the ground up.

Clara’s launch signifies a significant market entry, bringing a raft of new potential growth, innovation and collaboration opportunities. Additionally, it offers valuable insights into startup industry trends and technology advancements.


ALJ Motors champions Toyota SUVs’ off-road legacy

Updated 07 January 2026
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ALJ Motors champions Toyota SUVs’ off-road legacy

Abdul Latif Jameel Motors, the authorized distributor of Toyota vehicles in Saudi Arabia since 1955, has launched the second edition of its off-road initiative — an immersive driving experience designed to engage guests and showcase the real-world capabilities of Toyota’s SUV lineup in the Kingdom’s desert terrains. The activation takes place on weekends, starting initially in Riyadh and continuing through Jeddah, before concluding in Dammam on Jan. 24.
The multi-city activation is designed to engage guests through Toyota’s SUV lineup in fun and exciting ways, offering a hands-on opportunity to experience vehicle performance, control, and versatility. The lineup features a wide range of Toyota SUV models, including the Land Cruiser HEV Max, a hybrid vehicle built for performance. Beyond the off-road drives, the activation offers a welcoming weekend setting with supporting activities suitable for families and younger guests, creating a well-rounded experience for visitors of all ages.
Building on the success of its inaugural edition, which welcomed more than 4,500 participants and attracted over 10,000 attendees, the second edition continues to focus on meaningful guest engagement through interactive and experiential driving activities while emphasizing safety, trust, and enjoyment. Through this approach, ALJ Motors champions Toyota’s off-road legacy while creating an experience that further connects guests with Toyota’s renowned SUV lineup.
Shahad Nassier, managing director of marketing communications at ALJ Motors, said: “Following the strong response to the inaugural season, the return of this off-road experience allows us to continue engaging our guests in an authentic and exciting way. In this second edition, we have further refined the driving routes and elevated the overall experience to better serve our guests and their families. By bringing Toyota’s SUV lineup into real desert environments, we provide an opportunity for guests to experience vehicle performance firsthand, while reinforcing the values of reliability and capability that have long defined Toyota’s presence in the Kingdom.”
The experiential initiative deepens guest relationships, supports informed vehicle choice, and reflects ALJ Motors’ ongoing role in delivering reliable and diversified mobility solutions across the Kingdom, in line with Saudi Vision 2030. 
Guests interested in participating in the off-road experience can register for the upcoming activations in Jeddah on Jan. 9-10, followed by Dammam on Jan. 16-17 and 23-24, through ALJ Motors’ official social channels.