18 Surprising Facts to Discover When Doing Business in Saudi Arabia

Having opened our first KSA office earlier this year, EER Middle East has been helping a wide range of clients find their own footing in this exciting destination. Alongside our amazing local team, senior leaders from EER Middle East have been on the ground in Riyadh lending their expertise and exploring the opportunities for businesses of all types across Saudi Arabia. Given the increasing interest in the KSA marketplace from around the world, our top priority has been to ensure that we have the knowledge and connections to support our clients in achieving their specific objectives in a timely and seamless manner. For those of the team who aren’t Saudi locals, this has meant spending time getting to know the location and its culture from those that know it best. So we thought this would be a great time to ask them what they have found most surprising about living in and doing business in Saudi Arabia.

Janice Trinidad – Relocation Team Leader

1. It’s youthful vigour! More than 50% of the population of Saudi is under 25 years of age, so there are so many young people around!
2. They LOVE coffee. There is such a strong coffee culture, with so many local and international brands to be found just in Riyadh alone.
3. A bustling hub. The main city centre of Riyadh is so cosmopolitan with such a great range of shops, cafes, restaurants and more.
4. Digital transactions. Almost all transactions are digital and you rarely ever see cash being used.

Kelly Labuschagne – Immigration Team Leader

1. A warm welcome. The locals are so incredibly friendly and welcoming.
2. Delicious food. The quality of the food is excellent with super fresh produce, from vegetables to meat.
3. Inclusive fitness. In the hotels the gyms are unisex, so you don’t have to worry about finding spaces to work out.
4. I never expected to see so many women working and driving vehicles!

Aideen Hopkins – Co-owner and Operations Director

1. The buzz. First off, it is impossible not to notice the overall buzz, particularly from business travellers, in Riyadh and beyond. This is a city, and a country, on the cusp of something special.
2. Seamless connectivity. The level of digitization is excellent and ideal for businesses looking to be more efficient and innovative.
3. There are so many ways to immerse yourself in the local culture and lots of opportunities to meet, work and socialize with Saudis.
4. Diverse landscapes. There really are so many fascinating places to explore, especially like Diriyah, which is a beautiful heritage area with picnic spaces and cycling trails. The Al Bujairi terrace is also a must-visit for its great restaurants!
5. Cooler climate. Coming from Dubai, I am very familiar with hot, sticky days, but Saudi has far less humidity, so it is much cooler overall and it even rains more than you would expect!

Marie O’Neill – Co-owner and Managing Director

1. The inviting atmosphere of Saudi begins from the moment you arrive – the airport is such a welcoming place.
2. It is also incredible just how engaging and friendly everyone is and how keen they are to meet with new contacts and discuss new ventures.
3. Saudis are very proud of their country and their future growth, they are really excited to work with companies that are establishing themselves in KSA.
4. Riyadh is home to the largest women’s university in the world! Princess Nourah Bint Abdulrahman University (PNU) even has its own internal monorail because of the size of its campus.
5. The diversity and quality of the restaurants and food was such a nice surprise – there really is something for every taste and everything we’ve enjoyed so far has been delicious!

If you would like to find out more about the services EER Middle East offers in KSA or discuss relocation, immigration or doing business in Saudi Arabia, please get in touch today on +971 (0)4 421 1819 or info@eerme.com.