Snowflake Expands to Saudi Arabia with New Middle East Headquarters

Snowflake, the AI Data Cloud company, has announced its expanding footprint in the Middle East by establishing a new regional headquarters (RHQ) in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. This strategic move aligns with the Kingdom’s growing emphasis on data residency and sovereignty, ensuring that data remains within its borders. The new headquarters also supports Snowflake’s availability on Google Cloud in Saudi Arabia, enhancing its ability to meet local data privacy and security requirements.

Supporting Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030

As Saudi Arabia accelerates its digital transformation under Vision 2030, data sovereignty and privacy have become integral to the nation’s agenda. The recently enacted Personal Data Protection Law of 2023 (PDPL) underscores the Kingdom’s focus on safeguarding data integrity, privacy, and security. Additionally, the Saudi data analytics market is projected to grow at a remarkable compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 30% between 2024 and 2032, reflecting the Kingdom’s dedication to leveraging data-driven insights and cutting-edge AI technologies.

“Snowflake’s expansion in Saudi Arabia is a pivotal step in our commitment to supporting and empowering Saudi organisations to meet local data regulations with faster, cost-efficient, secure, and compliant data solutions,” said Mohamed Zouari, General Manager, Middle East, Africa and Turkey at Snowflake. “With our local deployment on Google Cloud, organisations in the KSA can use a foundational data strategy to unlock deeper data insights powered by AI, driving business innovation, all while meeting the highest standards of data residency and sovereignty.”

Enhanced Deployment Options for Middle Eastern Customers

Snowflake’s AI Data Cloud is already empowering organizations across the Middle East to discover and securely share data while executing diverse analytic workloads. Previously accessible through its regional deployment in Dubai, Snowflake now offers its services on Google Cloud in Saudi Arabia, giving customers greater flexibility in choosing deployment regions that align with their operational needs. This addition provides businesses in the region with enhanced tools to harness the power of data.

Almarai: A Success Story in Data-Driven Decision Making

Leading organizations, such as Almarai, are leveraging Snowflake’s AI Data Cloud to access and utilize data more effectively. With Snowflake’s secure and governed platform, Almarai has been able to enhance its business decision-making processes, showcasing the transformative potential of AI and data analytics.

Celebrating the Launch in Riyadh

“The availability of Snowflake’s AI Data Cloud in Saudi Arabia aligns seamlessly with our commitment to having secure and governed data solutions, where data resides within regional boundaries,” said Dr. Faisal Al-Nasser, CIO, Almarai. “This deployment marks a significant advancement in our ability to manage and analyse data, paving the way for new opportunities in our digital initiatives.”

To commemorate its expanded presence in Saudi Arabia, Snowflake will host a launch event at the Saraj Venue in Riyadh on January 19, 2025. This event will mark a significant milestone in Snowflake’s journey to support the Kingdom’s data-driven ambitions while fostering innovation and growth in the region.