December 8, 2024
PRESS RELEASE
Apple Announces Retail Expansion in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Company to Enhance Learning Opportunities with the Coed Apple Foundation Program at the Apple Developer Academy
RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA – Apple today revealed its plans for expansion within the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, beginning with the launch of the Apple Store online in summer 2025. This online platform will provide customers across the nation with new shopping options for Apple’s extensive product lineup, complete with outstanding support in Arabic for the first time.
Starting in 2026, Apple will unveil a series of flagship stores in Saudi Arabia, offering consumers more opportunities to engage with Apple’s knowledgeable team and discover the ideal products and services. A hallmark of this expansion will be an iconic retail location planned for Diriyah, a UNESCO World Heritage site.
“We’re thrilled to be expanding our presence in Saudi Arabia with the launch of the Apple Store online next year and several flagship locations set to debut in 2026, including a remarkable store at the breathtaking site of Diriyah,” said Tim Cook, Apple’s CEO. “Our teams are eager to strengthen our connections with customers, bringing the best of Apple to empower individuals across this nation to explore their passions, enhance their businesses, and elevate their ideas.”
Whether shopping online, in-store, or through the Apple Store app, Apple provides customers with personalized experiences to help them select the right products; choose from various financing and payment options; and receive assistance setting up their new devices, all supported by Apple’s exceptional team members.
This retail expansion builds on Apple’s prior investments and activities in Saudi Arabia, which include the introduction of the region’s first Apple Developer Academy in Riyadh in partnership with the Government of Saudi Arabia, Tuwaiq Academy, and Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University.
The all-women Apple Developer Academy at Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University delivers top-notch training to aspiring coders, designers, and entrepreneurs, equipping them for careers in the country’s flourishing app economy. Nearly 2,000 students have completed programming courses through this academy and are now publishing their apps on the App Store for both local and international audiences.
Apple is committed to broadening learning opportunities through its academy programs and partnerships. This summer marked the inaugural coed Apple Foundation Program in the country, a month-long initiative that gathered students nationwide to learn the basics of coding and app development, with a special emphasis on gaming. Plans for future coed Foundation Program cohorts are underway, with the next scheduled for spring 2025.
Graduates of the Apple Developer Academy are not alone in navigating careers within Saudi Arabia’s dynamic iOS app sector. The developer community is a vital contributor to the economy, generating job opportunities nationwide across businesses of all sizes. The app economy is rapidly advancing, as more coders, entrepreneurs, and creators leverage the App Store and Apple’s developer resources. Since 2019, revenues for developers in Saudi Arabia have surged by over 1,750%.
Apple continues to make significant investments throughout Saudi Arabia, fostering job creation and introducing new technologies to artists, entrepreneurs, small business owners, and commuters. Over the past five years, Apple has spent more than 10 billion SAR with local companies. Additionally, Apple services are empowering businesses throughout Saudi Arabia, and with the recent debut of the metro system in Riyadh, the city joins over 250 others where users can utilize Apple Pay for public transit. Riyadh also becomes the first city in the Middle East to offer Express Mode, allowing users to smoothly pay for transit with just their iPhone or Apple Watch, without the need to wake or unlock their devices. Since launching in Saudi Arabia in 2019, many customers have shifted entirely from plastic cards to Apple Pay for their transactions.
About Apple
Apple transformed personal technology with the launch of the Macintosh in 1984. Today, it stands as a leader in innovation with a wide array of products including iPhone, iPad, Mac, AirPods, Apple Watch, and Apple Vision Pro. Apple’s six software platforms—iOS, iPadOS, macOS, watchOS, visionOS, and tvOS—facilitate seamless experiences across all devices, supported by groundbreaking services such as the App Store, Apple Music, Apple Pay, iCloud, and Apple TV+. With more than 150,000 employees, Apple is dedicated to delivering the best products globally while striving to improve the world we inhabit.
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