Riyadh – Sharikat Mubasher: PepsiCo announced the official opening of its expanded Regional Headquarters (RHQ) for the Middle East in Riyadh’s King Abdullah Financial District (KAFD).

According to the company’s press release, the new 2,800-square-meter office will accommodate over 150 employees and further anchors the company’s presence in the Kingdom.

The inauguration ceremony welcomed PepsiCo’s executive leadership alongside senior Saudi government officials, media representatives, and special guests. The milestone was also marked by a visit from PepsiCo Chairman and CEO Ramon Laguarta and other global executives.

Ahmed El Sheikh, President and General Manager for Middle East, North Africa, and Pakistan Foods at PepsiCo Said: “PepsiCo has been a partner in the Middle East for nearly 70 years, and the Kingdom remains at the heart of our growth strategy. Our new RHQ in Riyadh signals our firm and long-term commitment to this region’s future and its people – through job creation, agricultural partnerships, social impact, and environmental stewardship.”

The company has invested over SAR 9 billion ($2.4 billion) in Saudi Arabia over the past eight years, including SAR 199 million ($53 million) in 2023 to expand its Dammam facility. Operating in 86 locations across the Kingdom, PepsiCo and its franchise partners employ nearly 9,000 people. The company also sources 100% of its potatoes locally for the regional market.

As part of its expansion, PepsiCo announced it will launch a SAR 30 million ($8 million) regional R&D center in Saudi Arabia later this year. The center will focus on product and packaging innovation for the GCC market. It will feature a high-tech culinary facility for live prototyping and testing, as well as an immersive sensory studio—the first of its kind in the region—to generate deep consumer insights.

Mohamed Shelbaya, General Manager of MENA Beverages, added: “The Middle East represents a key global market for PepsiCo. We are not only expanding our footprint but also innovating our product portfolio to meet the preferences of a young and dynamic consumer base, which makes up nearly half the region’s population.”

The new RHQ will also serve as a hub for PepsiCo’s regional social impact programs, including MENA Innovates and Tamakani, which focus on youth entrepreneurship and the career advancement of Saudi women.