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Apple has announced a significant expansion in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, with plans to launch the Apple Store online in the summer of 2025. This new platform will offer Saudi customers the ability to shop Apple’s complete product range with Arabic-language support for the first time, enhancing accessibility and customer service.
Beginning in 2026, Apple will open the first of several flagship Apple Store locations across the country, furthering its commitment to deepening connections with Saudi customers. One of the highlights of this expansion will be an iconic store at Diriyah, a UNESCO World Heritage site, marking a milestone in the company’s growth in the region.
Tim Cook, Apple’s CEO, expressed excitement over the expansion, stating, “We’re excited to be expanding here in Saudi Arabia with the launch of the Apple Store online next year, and the first of several flagship Apple Store locations starting in 2026, including an iconic store at the stunning site of Diriyah coming later.”
“Our teams are looking forward to deepening our connections with customers and bringing the best of Apple to help people across this country explore their passions, build their businesses, and take their ideas to the next level,” He added.
In addition to its retail outlets, Apple continues to actively engage with and enhance educational programs in Saudi Arabia. The inaugural Apple Developer Academy in the region was established in Riyadh in 2021, through a collaborative effort between Tuwaiq Academy and Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University. Since its inception, the all-female academy has effectively trained nearly 2,000 students, empowering them to submit applications to the App Store and contributing to the expansion of the nation’s burgeoning app economy.
This summer, Apple has initiated its inaugural coeducational Apple Foundation Program in Saudi Arabia, a one-month course designed to impart foundational knowledge in coding and application development, with a particular emphasis on gaming. The company plans to expand the program in 2025 to enhance the learning environment for students.
Apple continues to introduce new technologies to benefit Saudi citizens, including the launch of Apple Pay for seamless, secure transit payments in Riyadh, which became the first city in the Middle East to offer this feature. With these initiatives, Apple is playing a crucial role in transforming Saudi Arabia’s digital landscape and fostering economic development.
