RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s push to attract global technology and gaming firms gained momentum as Yalla Group Ltd. said it will establish its regional headquarters in Riyadh. 

The new office, slated to open in the first half of 2026 at Roshn Front, will anchor Yalla’s operations in Saudi Arabia and the wider Gulf, the company said in a statement. 

The announcement follows a meeting in Beijing between Yalla’s leadership and Prince Faisal bin Bandar bin Sultan Al Saud, chairman of the Saudi Esports Federation and the Arab Esports Federation. 

The facility is expected to strengthen Yalla Group’s presence in Saudi Arabia and leverage the Kingdom’s growing digital and entertainment ecosystem. 

The move comes as Riyadh accelerates efforts to attract multinational firms through its regional headquarters program, which offers tax incentives and procurement advantages. More than 780 companies have received licenses to relocate their regional bases to the Saudi capital, Investment Minister Khalid Al-Falih said at the Future Investment Initiative in October. 

Quoting Prince Faisal, the press release stated that “Yalla Group’s decision to base its regional head office in Riyadh underscores international confidence in the Kingdom’s expanding digital economy and its robust ecosystem for creative industries.”  

He added that the move would broaden the Kingdom’s gaming landscape, create new opportunities for Saudi talent, and support the goals of Vision 2030, which aims to position Saudi Arabia as a regional leader in digital entertainment and technology. 

The new headquarters will serve as a central hub for managing Yalla’s operations and partnerships across Saudi Arabia and beyond. It will also enable the company to forge closer ties with local stakeholders, develop localized gaming content, and foster collaboration across the Kingdom’s entertainment ecosystem. 

Saifi Ismail, president of Yalla Group and CEO of the Riyadh regional headquarters, said: “The opening of our new headquarters in Riyadh marks a strategic milestone in Yalla Group’s expansion plans in the Saudi market. It demonstrates our commitment to contributing to the development of the Kingdom’s advanced digital landscape.”  

He added: “Our new office will serve as the core from which we will manage our operations across Saudi Arabia, enabling us to forge stronger partnerships and drive growth within an integrated technology ecosystem that fosters innovation.”