World Bank opens regional office in Riyadh

This milestone aligns with the 50th anniversary of technical cooperation between the World Bank and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

The World Bank (WB) announced today, Sept. 22, the opening of a new regional office in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, to serve the Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan, and Pakistan (MENAAP) region.

The Riyadh hub will be co-located with the World Bank Group's Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) regional office, according to a statement.

The MENAAP jurisdiction's regional vice president and regional practice directors have relocated to Riyadh, bringing the World Bank's leadership closer to country teams and “marking a new chapter in the WB’s operational footprint”, it said.

The opening coincides with the 50th anniversary of technical cooperation between the WB and Saudi Arabia.

Over the past five decades, the Washington-based lender has supported major reforms in key sectors through advisory services, technical assistance, and human capital development.

According to Argaam data, in December 2024, the World Bank Group and Saudi Arabia signed a strategic agreement to launch of “K-Hub” — a new global knowledge hub in Riyadh, in a bid to facilitate regional and global knowledge exchange, joint research, and capacity-building initiatives aimed at advancing global development impact.