Retailer GMG opens new Saudi HQ in Riyadh, plans to hire 1,200 new employees

Retailer GMG opens new Saudi HQ in Riyadh, plans to hire 1,200 new employees

Regional retail conglomerate Gulf Marketing Group (GMG) has announced further expansion and investment in Saudi Arabia with the opening of a new head office in Riyadh, the company said. Deputy Chairman and CEO Mohammad A. Baker told Al Arabiya English that the company plans to double its 1,200-strong workforce in the Kingdom.GMG already has a strong presence in Saudi Arabia due to its nationwide network of approximately 90 outlets including its Sun and Sand Sports chain - the Middle East's largest sports retailer - as well as being a distributor for global brands like Nike, Columbia, Vans, and others.

GMG's head office in Riyadh follows a government announcement in February that stated that Saudi Arabia will require all government contracts to be awarded to companies with headquarters in the country. It will no longer sign contracts with foreign companies without a regional headquarters inside the Kingdom starting from 2024.

The move is one facet of a wider strategy to attract international investors to one of the Middle East's largest economies and diversify it from its oil-heavy roots, as outlined in the Crown Prince's Vision 2030.

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