Ericsson, has inaugurated its new regional headquarters in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The new headquarters reflects Ericsson’s commitment to Saudi Arabia and the strategic role of the country in the company’s regional operations across the Middle East and Africa.
The ceremony was attended by His Excellency Eng Haytham AlOhali, Vice Minister at Ministry of Communications and Information Technology; His Excellency Dr Abdullah A. Aldubaikhi, Assistant Minister of the Ministry of Investment of Saudi Arabia, MISA; Her Excellency Petra Menander, Swedish Ambassador to Saudi Arabia; Börje Ekholm, President and Chief Executive Officer of Ericsson Group; and Patrick Johansson, President of Europe, Middle East and Africa at Ericsson in addition to other Ericsson leadership team members.
Also present were Eng Olayan bin Mohammed Alwetaid, Chief Executive Officer of stc Group, and Eng Nezar H Banabeela, Chief Executive Officer of Mobily.
The event featured discussions around the evolution of network technologies, the roadmap to 6G, and the impact of Vision 2030 on shaping long-term innovation strategies. With a strong focus on collaboration, talent development, and 5G leadership, Ericsson emphasised on the importance of cross-sector engagement and technological advancement in building an inclusive digital infrastructure for Saudi Arabia and the wider region.
Saudi Arabia continues to play a central role in Ericsson’s regional strategy. The company has contributed to the development of Saudi Arabia’s telecommunications sector by expanding mobile infrastructure, supporting the adoption of 5G, and enabling digital transformation.
Ericsson’s Gen-E Graduate Programme has been hosted at the 5G Innovation Hub in Riyadh since 2018, professionally developing over 190 Saudi graduates from national and international universities, with women making up 50% of the cohort. The programme provides comprehensive training on Ericsson’s technologies, tools, and methodologies, including technical workshops led by Ericsson’s experts and the Ericsson Saudi Arabia leadership team.
Since its launch, it has contributed to the development of diverse 5G and Internet of Things, IoT use cases across multiple sectors like robotics, 5G edge computing, and mixed reality monitoring and control, supporting Saudi Arabia’s innovation and digital transformation efforts.
Over the years, Ericsson has closely partnered with stc, Mobily, Zain Saudi Arabia, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, and King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology, on initiatives focused on research, innovation, and the development of advanced connectivity solutions.
Ericsson and King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology have partnered in 2024 to establish a joint advanced connectivity lab for gaming and beyond at King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology premises, named Blink Lab. The lab will feature a private 5G network and serve as a testbed for training, research, product development and commercialisation of innovative gaming solutions from global and local ecosystems.
Another R&D collaboration in Saudi Arabia is between Ericsson and KAUST to propel 5G and 6G in Saudi Arabia. The partnership aims to continue fostering scientific findings and developing talent in line with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, further contributing to Saudi Arabia’s Information and Communications Technology sector growth.
Eng Olayan bin Mohammed Alwetaid, Chief Executive Officer of stc group, says: “Ericsson’s new regional headquarters in Riyadh represents an important step for us at stc, as the region’s digital enabler, in strengthening digital infrastructure, innovation, and digitisation across the region.”
Patrick Johansson, President of Ericsson Europe, Middle East and Africa, says: “The establishment of our new Middle East and Africa regional headquarters in Riyadh strengthens our presence in the region.”
His Excellency Dr Abdullah A Aldubaikhi, Assistant Minister of the Ministry of Investment of Saudi Arabia, MISA, says: “The establishment of Ericsson’s regional headquarters in Riyadh reinforces Saudi Arabia’s position as a destination for global investment in advanced technologies. It also aligns with our national ambition to build a dynamic digital economy and foster innovation-led growth.”
His Excellency Eng. Abdulrahman AlMufadda, Deputy Minister of Communications and Information Technology for Telecom and Digital Infrastructure, says: “This milestone reflects the confidence that global companies have in Saudi Arabia and underscores its growing status as a regional hub for technology and innovation. In this context, global partnerships are a key driver of progress, accelerating the adoption of emerging technologies and shaping a more connected and sustainable future.”
