Riyadh – Sharikat Mubasher: The World Bank inaugurated a new regional hub in Riyadh to oversee operations across the Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan, and Pakistan (MENAAP).

The hub, which shares a location with the Bank’s Gulf Cooperation Council office, brings senior leadership closer to country teams, clients, and regional partners, as per an official press release.

Ousmane Dione, World Bank Vice President for the region, said Riyadh offers a strategic platform for policy innovation and global knowledge exchange, noting the move coincides with Saudi National Day and reflects the Kingdom’s growing role in development dialogue.

The opening marks 50 years of technical cooperation between Saudi Arabia and the World Bank, a partnership that has supported major reforms through advisory services, technical assistance, and capacity-building. Earlier this year, the two parties launched a global Knowledge Hub in Riyadh to advance research and knowledge sharing on development initiatives.