Apple announced plans to expand in Saudi Arabia, starting with the launch of an online store in summer 2025 and opening physical stores in 2026, including a flagship location in Diriyah, a UNESCO World Heritage site.
The expansion includes existing investments in the country, including the Apple Developer Academy in Riyadh, which opened in Riyadh in 2021 in partnership with the Government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Tuwaiq Academy, and Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University. The program has trained nearly 2,000 aspiring feamale coders, designers, and entrepreneurs. Apple hosted the country’s first coed Apple Foundation Program. A monthlong course for students from across the country to learn the fundamentals of coding and app development, with a focus on gaming. Apple plans to further expand the coed Foundation offerings, with the next cohort planned for spring 2025.
Apple has emphasizes its commitment to Saudi Arabia, highlighting investments, job creation, and the growth of the app economy, with developer earnings increasing up over 1,750 percent since 2019. Apple Pay is also gaining traction in the country, with Riyadh being the first city in the Middle East to offer Express Mode for transit payments.
