Global consulting firm HKA has signalled its intent in Saudi Arabia with the formalisation of its regional headquarters license in the kingdom.
HKA, which has over 1,000 staff across 45+ offices worldwide, has been active in the Saudi market for more than two decades. From its offices in Jeddah and Riyadh, the consulting firm helps its clients with risk mitigation, dispute resolution and litigation services for capital projects in the built environment.
In Saudi Arabia, HKA’s portfolio includes working on some of the country’s most iconic projects and commissions across a variety of sectors, including several Vision 2030 giga projects.
Commenting on the milestone of gaining its license under the regional headquarters programme from the Ministry of Investment of Saudi Arabia, Amanda Clack, Partner and Regional CEO for EMEA said: “HKA’s long-term commitment to the Saudi market dates back some 40 years, with our Jeddah and Riyadh offices having operated for over 15 years.”
“The confirmation of our regional headquarters License is an exciting and natural evolution of our continued commitment to the region.”
Notably, HKA becomes the first major international consultancy firm in the construction claims and expert segment to gain regional HQ status under the programme.
Husam Gawish, Partner and Head of Saudi Arabia Operations, emphasised that HKA’s local operations met all the programme’s eligibility requirements. “We have a strong team in the country composed of senior managers, consultant experts, and administrative staff.”
Launched in 2021, Saudi Arabia’s regional headquarters program aims to attract multinational companies to set up their headquarters in Saudi Arabia and position the kingdom as a leading commercial, industrial and investment hub for the MENA region. Effective since the 1st of January 2024, having a regional headquarters is beneficial for conducting business with state bodies, and provides special tax incentives.
Building on its status, Jad Chouman, Partner and Head of Middle East, said the firm is well positioned to continue its growth trajectory in the Saudi market. “The ambitious economic diversification underway in Saudi Arabia mirrors our own rapid growth, not only in construction claims and expert witness services, but also our wider offerings in forensic accounting and commercial damages, forensic technical services, and advisory services.”
“We’re experiencing growth across all sectors,” Gawish added. “As with the national economy, oil & gas remains vibrant, but our workload in construction generally, including infrastructure, buildings and tourism development, is increasingly significant.”
Earlier this year, IBM Consulting inaugurated its regional Saudi headquarters in Riyadh, while Deloitte and PwC celebrated the feat months before.