The World Bank has opened a new regional hub in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, to serve the Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan, and Pakistan (MENAAP). The hub is co-located with the World Bank Group’s Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) regional office. This move brings the Bank’s leadership closer to country teams, clients, and regional partners while enhancing collaboration and response to development challenges across the region.
Marking a significant operational shift, the MENAAP Vice President and regional practice directors have officially relocated to Riyadh. World Bank officials described this milestone as a strategic step to improve decision-making and strengthen engagement with stakeholders. By moving key leadership to Riyadh, the Bank aims to foster closer ties with governments, private sectors, and development partners across the MENAAP region.
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Ousmane Dione, Vice President for MENAAP, highlighted the symbolic importance of the relocation coinciding with Saudi National Day. He praised Riyadh as a gateway for regional transformation and a global platform for knowledge exchange and policy innovation. Dione underscored that the hub would accelerate reforms and development strategies while deepening the World Bank’s partnerships in a rapidly evolving region.
This development also celebrates 50 years of technical cooperation between Saudi Arabia and the World Bank. Over the decades, the Bank has supported reforms in crucial sectors through advisory services, technical assistance, and capacity development programs. The new hub is expected to build on these achievements and further strengthen the World Bank’s regional presence.
Recently, the World Bank Group and Saudi Arabia jointly launched a global Knowledge Hub (K-Hub) in Riyadh. This initiative aims to facilitate research, capacity-building programs, and knowledge-sharing opportunities that will not only benefit the MENAAP region but also contribute to advancing global development impact through innovation and collaboration.