Apple to Open Several Flagship Stores in Saudi Arabia by 2026

Global electronics brand Apple will open several flagship retail stores across Saudi Arabia starting in 2026, including an iconic location at Diriyah, a UNESCO World Heritage site. This expansion marks a significant step in Apple’s presence in the region, offering customers direct access to its products and services.

Ahead of the store openings, Apple plans to launch the Apple Store online in summer 2025, providing customers across the Kingdom access to its full product range with Arabic-language support.

The expansion builds on Apple’s investments in Saudi Arabia, including the Apple Developer Academy in Riyadh, established in 2021 in partnership with the Saudi government, Tuwaiq Academy and Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University. The all-women academy has trained nearly 2,000 students, many of whom have published apps for local and global markets.

This year, Apple introduced its first coed Apple Foundation Program in Saudi Arabia, focused on coding and app development, with the next cohort scheduled for spring 2025.

Since 2019, Saudi developers’ App Store earnings have surged over 1,750%. Additionally, Apple has invested over 10 billion SAR with local businesses in the past five years.

Apple Pay adoption has also grown, with Riyadh becoming the first Middle Eastern city where users can ride the metro and buses using Express Mode, allowing seamless transit payments with iPhones and Apple Watches.