Snowflake Expands in Saudi Arabia with New Riyadh Headquarters

Snowflake, the AI Data Cloud company, has announced its growing presence in the Middle East with the establishment of a regional headquarters (RHQ) in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. In addition, Snowflake has achieved general availability on Google Cloud within the Kingdom, ensuring compliance with Saudi Arabia’s data residency and sovereignty requirements by allowing data to remain within its borders.

As Saudi Arabia accelerates its digital transformation under Vision 2030, data sovereignty and privacy have become critical pillars of its strategy. The introduction of the Personal Data Protection Law of 2023 (PDPL) highlights the Kingdom’s focus on data integrity, privacy, and security. Simultaneously, the Saudi Arabian data analytics market is projected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 30% between 2024 and 2032, underscoring the Kingdom’s commitment to leveraging advanced AI and data-driven insights.

According to Mohamed Zouari, General Manager for the Middle East, Africa, and Turkey at Snowflake, this expansion reflects the company’s dedication to empowering Saudi organizations with faster, secure, and compliant data solutions. Zouari stated, “With our local deployment on Google Cloud, organizations in Saudi Arabia can implement foundational data strategies to unlock deeper insights powered by AI, driving innovation while meeting the highest standards of data residency and sovereignty.”

Snowflake’s AI Data Cloud is already being utilized by Middle Eastern customers to securely share data and execute diverse analytic workloads through its existing deployment in Dubai. The addition of a deployment on Google Cloud in Saudi Arabia offers regional customers greater flexibility, enabling them to select a geographic location that best suits their operational and compliance needs.

Organizations such as Almarai are already benefiting from Snowflake’s AI Data Cloud to enhance decision-making through secure and governed platforms. Dr. Faisal Al-Nasser, CIO of Almarai, commented, “The availability of Snowflake’s AI Data Cloud in Saudi Arabia aligns seamlessly with our commitment to secure and governed data solutions, where data resides within regional boundaries. This deployment marks a significant advancement in our ability to manage and analyze data, paving the way for new opportunities in our digital initiatives.”

Snowflake’s expansion highlights its role as a strategic partner in Saudi Arabia’s digital transformation journey. By supporting local data regulations and enabling organizations to adopt AI-powered solutions, Snowflake is driving innovation and helping businesses in the Kingdom achieve their growth objectives.