UL Solutions, a global leader in the field of applied safety science, has announced the establishment of a new office in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. This strategic expansion is in response to Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 economic transformation plan and is set to bolster UL Solutions’ Middle Eastern presence, complementing existing offices in Dammam, Dubai, and Abu Dhabi.

This new facility will support the safe, sustainable, and secure commercialisation of technologies, furthering Saudi Arabia’s economic transformation initiatives and objectives. It will offer fire safety, security, and sustainability services to its customers, and provide access to proven science, testing, critical data, and software products.

Dareen Ayyad, country manager of UL Solutions in Saudi Arabia and the leader in the Riyadh office, expressed enthusiasm for this expansion. “This move is an expression of our commitment to serving our in-region customers and supporting the region’s major developments and projects,” Ayyad stated. “With this expansion, we aim to provide local access to our world-class safety science expertise, aiding efforts to transform the economy.”

Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 plan, launched in 2016, focuses on three central pillars: positioning Saudi Arabia at the heart of the Middle East, creating a diverse and sustainable economy, and being a significant driver of international trade, connecting Africa, Asia, and Europe. The plan is also geared towards reducing Saudi Arabia’s oil dependence by diversifying its economy.

In recent years, Saudi Arabia has made substantial strides towards realising Vision 2030, with key initiatives including an $18 billion data center strategy and the development of mega and giga projects such as NEOM, a smart city, and Amaala and the Red Sea Project, ultra-luxury and sustainable tourist destinations. The country is also focusing on renewable energy, with the development of over 58 GW of solar and wind power and plans to phase out fossil fuel-based power stations.

Hamid Syed, vice president and general manager of UL Solutions in the Middle East, highlighted the significant need to address fire safety, cybersecurity, and sustainability amidst these transformations. “Our new presence in Riyadh will allow us to continue to be a trusted science-based safety, security, and sustainability partner, helping to enable the Kingdom’s economic evolution,” he said.

UL Solutions has also established a partnership with Dammam-based GCC Labs to advance fire safety in the Middle East. They are working collaboratively in Saudi Arabia to assess the effects of extreme environmental conditions on photovoltaic modules, enhancing the understanding of future solar project efficiencies.

The company has also formed agreements with the Saudi Arabian Standards Organisation (SASO) to promote the use of UL Standards for safety and has received accreditation from SASO to perform tests related to energy efficiency functionality for street, road, and tunnel lighting products.

“Beyond strengthening our existing relationships with GCC Labs, STC, and SASO, we aim to fortify key local partnerships to support the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 goals,” Syed added.

James Glosen, counselor for Commercial Affairs at the U.S. Embassy in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, welcomed this development and recognised the important role U.S. firms like UL Solutions play in Saudi Arabia’s growing and diversifying economy.

About UL Solutions

UL Solutions is a global leader in applied safety science, offering testing, inspection, certification services, software products, and advisory offerings to customers in over 100 countries. The company aids its customers in navigating complex global markets and supply chains, and supports their sustainable growth into the future. UL Solutions is dedicated to advancing safety, security, and sustainability, transforming these challenges into opportunities for its customers.