IBM is gearing up to enhance its presence in the Middle East with a substantial investment aimed at fostering innovation in line with Saudi Arabia’s long-term goals.
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia: A global powerhouse in hybrid cloud, AI, and consulting services, IBM has unveiled plans to pour more than $200 million into a new state-of-the-art IBM Software Lab in Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia. This initiative underscores IBM’s dedication to broadening its footprint in the Middle East, while also aligning with the Kingdom’s ambitious Vision 2030 strategy.
The forthcoming lab will be dedicated to expediting the pace of digital innovation and nurturing product development, management, and design. It will prioritize solutions in the realms of Data & AI and Sustainability Software. The core mission of IBM’s Software Lab is to cultivate talent, spur job creation for proficient IT professionals within Saudi Arabia’s tech landscape, and collaborate on global solutions.
The announcement emerged during LEAP 2024 on a panel featuring H.E. Abdullah Alswaha, Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Communications and Information Technology, and Arvind Krishna, IBM’s Chairman and CEO.
Minister Alswaha expressed his enthusiasm, remarking, IBM’s decision to establish an international Software Lab in Saudi Arabia reflects the nation’s extraordinary strides in the ICT industry. This facility will not only bolster our aspirations to become a leading global tech hub but will also fast-track AI-driven innovation and novel business models for our entrepreneurs and sectors both public and private.
Arvind Krishna echoed this sentiment, highlighting the lab’s potential to deliver unique value to IBM’s global clientele through collaboration with the region’s brightest minds on pivotal technologies like AI and hybrid cloud. Krishna emphasized IBM’s longstanding partnership in the Kingdom’s digital progression, with the new lab reinforcing that commitment.
The proposed IBM Software Lab in Riyadh follows IBM’s recent move to establish new regional headquarters in the city. With a global operation spanning over 170 nations and a legacy in the Kingdom dating back to 1947, IBM’s latest venture is set to amplify Saudi Arabia’s global influence, leveraging a history of success to shape a progressive future.
Joining IBM’s extensive network of Software Labs scattered across the globe, the Riyadh lab will be part of an illustrious group including locations in the US, Canada, India, and Europe.
About IBM
As a frontrunner in the areas of global hybrid cloud and AI, IBM offers its vast consulting expertise to clients across 175 countries, enabling them to harness data insights, optimize business operations, cut costs, and secure a competitive advantage. A multitude of entities in crucial sectors like finance, telecoms, airlines, and healthcare depend on IBM’s hybrid cloud platform and Red Hat OpenShift for swift, efficient, and secure digital transformations. IBM continues to lead with pioneering AI, quantum computing, industry-specific cloud solutions, and consulting services, providing clients with open and flexible options, all built on a foundation of trust, transparency, responsibility, and inclusivity.