Global data, AI, and enterprise performance management (EPM) consultancy SBI has officially expanded into Saudi Arabia, marking a major step in its Middle East growth strategy. The move, supported by AstroLabs, the Gulf region’s leading business expansion platform, underscores SBI’s commitment to advancing data-driven transformation across the Kingdom.
The expansion follows SBI’s recent participation as a sponsor at the Data 2030 Summit in Riyadh, reflecting the firm’s early engagement with Saudi Arabia’s rapidly evolving digital ecosystem.
Founded over 15 years ago and headquartered in France, SBI operates across 11 offices spanning Europe, Africa, the Middle East, North America, and APAC. The consultancy partners with major global technology leaders including Snowflake, Microsoft, and Strategy to deliver large-scale transformation programs in sectors such as retail, finance, transport, logistics, and healthcare.
“Our expansion into Saudi Arabia is a natural next step in SBI’s global growth journey,” said Thomas Lusson, Global CEO of SBI Group. “The Middle East, and Saudi Arabia in particular, play a pivotal role in our long-term ambitions as the region continues to lead major transformation programs powered by data and AI.”
The newly established Riyadh office strengthens SBI’s regional delivery capabilities and enables the company to directly serve clients amid surging demand for AI and data transformation. With the Saudi enterprise AI market projected to grow nearly 38% annually through 2030, SBI aims to position itself at the forefront of this acceleration.
“As Saudi Arabia accelerates its Vision 2030 agenda, data and AI have become essential enablers of economic diversification and performance,” said Karim Lahlou, Managing Director of SBI Middle East. “By expanding our presence, we aim to support organizations in building modern data platforms, optimizing financial performance, and transforming insight into action.”
SBI’s entry into Saudi Arabia reflects a broader commitment to nurturing the region’s data economy. Its Riyadh hub will serve as a central point for delivering localized expertise, helping enterprises modernize data infrastructures, enhance financial performance, and embed AI into everyday decision-making.
“Saudi Arabia is at the heart of our regional vision for META,” added Imad El Ayoubi, CEO of SBI META. “Our growing presence here reflects the Kingdom’s importance as a catalyst for innovation and digital transformation across the region.”
As the Kingdom advances its Vision 2030 ambitions, the next wave of growth will be powered by scaled data platforms, AI-enabled operations, and cloud-native architectures. SBI’s early entry into the market positions it to strategically contribute and benefit from Saudi Arabia’s ongoing digital transformation.
