Globant, a US-based digital transformation company, has opened its regional headquarters in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

This move follows the company’s entry into the Middle East nearly three years ago and marks its continued expansion in the region.

Globant plans to focus on AI-driven innovation in sectors such as media, financial services, gaming, and travel.

It will also offer training for local IT professionals in AI Architecture and Engineering.

In the first quarter of 2025, Globant reported an 84.4% year-over-year revenue growth in the Middle East and Asia-Pacific regions.

🔗 Source: TradeArabia

🧠 Food for thought

1️⃣ Saudi Arabia’s tech transformation requires both foreign expertise and local talent development

Saudi Arabia faces a critical 20% talent gap in technology fields, particularly in AI, cybersecurity, and cloud computing, highlighting why Globant’s commitment to train local IT professionals is strategically important1.

The Kingdom’s Vision 2030 aims to increase the tech sector’s GDP contribution from 1% to 5%, creating demand for specialized skills that currently outpaces local supply2.

This talent shortage exists despite substantial investment, with the Saudi IT market projected to reach $27.4 billion by 2025 and the software market experiencing 11% annual growth2.

Globant’s approach reflects broader trends in the region, where companies are establishing training programs to develop local capabilities while simultaneously bringing in foreign expertise to accelerate knowledge transfer.

The company’s 84.4% year-over-year revenue growth in the Middle East & APAC region demonstrates the substantial commercial opportunity for technology service providers who can bridge this expertise gap.

2️⃣ Middle East shows high consumer tech adoption but lags in business digitization

The Middle East presents a unique digital landscape where consumer adoption of technology is remarkably high. Countries like Bahrain, Qatar, and UAE boast over 100% smartphone penetration and 70% social media adoption rates, exceeding levels in the United States3.

However, McKinsey research reveals only 6% of the Middle Eastern population lives under fully digitized smart government, indicating a significant gap between consumer readiness and business/government digital transformation3.