The World Bank announced on Tuesday the opening of a new regional headquarters in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, to serve the Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan, and Pakistan.
The office will operate alongside the World Bank Group’s existing Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) office in the Saudi capital.
The Riyadh hub marks a significant step in bringing the World Bank’s leadership closer to country teams, regional partners, and stakeholders.
With the relocation of the Vice President for the Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan, and Pakistan, as well as regional practice directors, the move signals the start of a new phase in the Bank’s operations and programs across the region.
Osman Dione, the World Bank Vice President for the region, said Riyadh is not only a gateway for driving transformation in the Middle East but also a global platform for sharing knowledge and innovation in development policies.
He highlighted the symbolism of the opening coinciding with Saudi Arabia’s National Day, reflecting the Kingdom’s growing role as a global hub for knowledge exchange and development expertise.
The launch also coincides with the 50th anniversary of technical cooperation between the World Bank and Saudi Arabia. Over the past five decades, the Bank has supported major reforms in key sectors of the Kingdom through advisory services, technical assistance, and capacity-building programs.
Recently, the World Bank Group and Saudi Arabia also announced the establishment of a Global Knowledge Hub (K-Hub) in Riyadh.
The center aims to facilitate knowledge sharing at both regional and global levels, support joint research, and strengthen capacity-building initiatives to maximize development impact worldwide.
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