HKA consolidates position in Saudi Arabia
The award of the new regional headquarters license puts the firm at the vanguard of KSA dispute resolution
HKA has consolidated its long-term presence on the ground in Saudi Arabia with the official grant of its Regional Headquarters (RHQ) License. The risk mitigation, advisory and construction expert firm gained its license under the regional headquarters programme from the Ministry of Investment of Saudi Arabia (MISA) on January 11th.
The firm is believed to be one of the first major international consultancy firms in the construction claims and expert sector to gain regional HQ status under the programme. This became a prerequisite for conducting business with state bodies, and for special tax incentives, with effect from 1 January, 2024.
HKA, whose global headquarters is in London, has long-established offices both in Jeddah and Riyadh, supporting its work for Saudi clients and capital projects that stretches back more than two decades.
Making the announcement, Jad Chouman, HKA’s Partner and Head of Middle East, said it reflected the firm’s growth strategy for the buoyant Saudi market and the wider region. He commented: “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.”
Amanda Clack, HKA Partner and Regional CEO for EMEA added, “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 RHQ License is an exciting and natural evolution of our continued commitment to the region.”
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, and it’s expanding. We’re experiencing growth across all sectors. As with the national economy, oil and gas remains vibrant, but our workload in construction generally, including infrastructure, buildings and tourism development, is increasingly significant,” he stated.
The consultancy has steadily expanded its historically contractor-centred business over the years and now serves a wide client base spanning both private and public sectors. Recent commissions involve strategic advisory services for several Vision 2030 giga-projects.
