News

Global Tech Giants Boost Saudi Presence Due To State Pressure

Firms including Amazon, Google, and Microsoft face government legislation designed to curb economic leakage.

Published

2 years ago

January 11, 2024

Nour Nasir

global tech giants boost saudi presence due to state pressure

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Global technology heavyweights, such as Amazon, Google, and Microsoft, are actively expanding their presence in Saudi Arabia in response to the government’s intention to withhold contracts from companies lacking regional headquarters within the country.

The move is part of a greater economic agenda that involves curbing the substantial amount of state and citizen spending that exits the country annually. As part of that plan, the government seeks to cease awarding contracts to international firms that merely shuttle executives in and out of the Kingdom.

Saudi Arabia introduced the new regulations in February 2021, citing a desire to minimize “economic leakage”. As per government records, all three of the US corporations mentioned above have now obtained licenses to establish regional headquarters in Riyadh in adherence to the January 1st deadline.

Towards the end of 2023, there was a noticeable surge in activity among large corporations aiming to establish local headquarters. Notable among the firms that have already received licenses are Airbus, Oracle, and Pfizer.

In further efforts to bolster the economy and attract international investments, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has also eased restrictions on gender mixing, women driving, and public entertainment. Nevertheless, limited lifestyle options and policies such as the continued alcohol ban have deterred many foreign executives from residing in the country.

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However, Saudi Arabia’s status as the largest economy in the region, along with plans to invest trillions of dollars to become a tourism and commercial hub, has prompted numerous multinational corporations to reevaluate their Middle East operations.

Recent Saudi economic policies are widely seen as an attempt to compete with Dubai, the Middle East’s foremost business hub, which has long attracted multinational firms due to its lifestyle, low taxation, and connectivity. So far, more than 200 firms have already received headquarters licenses, including Bechtel, PwC, and PepsiCo, all of whom have announced Riyadh as their regional headquarters.

News

LUVED Is A New Curated Preloved Marketplace For The UAE

Sellers keep 100 percent of every sale and AI can build a listing in five seconds — though the app’s smartest tools are still coming.

Published

9 hours ago

June 16, 2026

Joanna Melki

luved is a new curated preloved marketplace for the uae

Secondhand shopping has become mainstream in the UAE, but the experience is still scattered across resale sites, social media and informal group chats. LUVED, a mobile-first marketplace that launched in Dubai this month, is betting it can pull that activity into one place — and that the thing buyers and sellers actually want is not more inventory, but trust.

The app trades in what it calls circular luxury: preloved fashion and lifestyle pieces across men’s, women’s and children’s categories, bought, sold or given away peer to peer. Its main pitch is economics, with sellers keeping 100 percent of every sale under a zero-commission, fast payout model, while buyers are promised vetted pieces at lower prices.

Where LUVED is staking its reputation is verification. Sellers pass a KYC check, and items run through a two-layer authentication system powered by Entrupy that pairs instant AI screening with human expert review for high-value pieces. Authenticity certificates travel with each item, payments sit in escrow, and a buyer-protection package the company calls The Safety Net adds a 48-hour return window and dispute resolution. Door-to-door logistics removes the in-person meetups that make most resale deals awkward.

An in-app assistant called Luvbot — offering selling insights and demand-based recommendations — is soon to be introduced to the platform. Other features include autofill and dynamic pricing that lets users build a listing in as little as five seconds from three photos, plus a swipe-based feed, story-style drops and in-app chat in English and Arabic. Finally, a gifting layer, Luved & Gifted, lets users pass items to others inside the app rather than sell them.

Also Read: Logitech’s New Folding Mouse Is Designed For Work On The Go

“After moving to Dubai, I saw how difficult it was to sell or even give things away,” says founder and CEO Shaima Sibtain. The friction is real, and so is the competition. In resale, trust is won transaction by transaction — and that is the test LUVED has set itself.

The app is live on the App Store now, with Google Play to follow. The company also plans to expand across the region, which will be the real test for a marketplace staking everything on trust.