According to sources familiar with the matter, Huawei Technologies Co. is considering making Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, its new Middle East headquarters as the Saudi government aims to establish itself as a regional business hub, and diplomatic and business relations with China strengthen. The Chinese tech giant, which already has offices across the Middle East including in Riyadh, is said to be in discussions with Saudi authorities to expand its presence in the country. However, no final decision has been made yet, and Huawei declined to comment on the matter.
Currently, the company's regional headquarters are located in Dubai and Bahrain. This potential move comes as Saudi Arabia plans to restrict government entities from doing business with foreign firms without a regional headquarters in the country starting from 2024. Huawei has been increasing its presence in Saudi Arabia despite the US government's efforts to persuade its allies to avoid using the Chinese firm's technology. Last year, during a visit to Riyadh by Chinese President Xi Jinping, the two countries signed agreements worth $50 billion.