Citi Opens Regional Headquarters in Riyadh Launches $500K Youth Employment

Khadamaty-New

Citi has officially inaugurated its new Regional Headquarters (RHQ) at Kingdom Tower in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, reinforcing its commitment to the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. The move aligns with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, which encourages multinational companies to establish regional hubs in the Kingdom.

The ribbon-cutting ceremony on October 25, 2025, was attended by key figures including Jane Fraser, Citi’s Chair and CEO; Eng. Khalid A. Al-Falih, Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Investment; and Eng. Ibrahim Al-Mubarak, Assistant Minister of Investment. Fraser emphasized that Riyadh’s strategic location and dynamic economy make it an ideal base for Citi’s operations in the region.

The new RHQ will oversee Citi’s branches and subsidiaries across MENA, providing strategic direction and management functions. In January 2025, Naveed Kamal was appointed CEO of Citi’s new legal entity in Saudi Arabia, further solidifying the bank’s regional leadership.

In conjunction with the headquarters opening, the Citi Foundation announced a $500,000 grant to Education for Employment (EFE), a leading NGO focused on youth employment in MENA. The grant will support EFE’s “Future-Ready Youth Employment and Skills Program,” aiming to equip over 700 young individuals across Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE with digital and green skills. This initiative is expected to directly connect at least 280 youth to job placements upon program completion.

Fahad Aldeweesh, Citi’s Country Officer and Banking Head in Saudi Arabia, highlighted that the grant underscores Citi’s long-standing commitment to addressing the skills gap and empowering youth to drive sustainable growth in the region.