Zoho’s SAR 500 Million Bet on Saudi Arabia’s Digital Future at Money20/20

As Saudi Arabia accelerates its digital transformation, global technology companies are expanding their presence in the Kingdom, with cloud computing, data sovereignty, and artificial intelligence emerging as key priorities for businesses.

At Money20/20 Middle East, Entrepreneur Middle East spoke with Saran B. Paramasivam, Regional Director, MEA and Country Manager, Saudi Arabia at Zoho Corp., about the technology company’s growing footprint in the Kingdom and its approach to supporting businesses in an increasingly digital economy.

With an investment of more than SAR 500 million in Saudi Arabia, Zoho is strengthening its commitment to the local market, focusing on the infrastructure and technology needed to support businesses as they scale.

A central part of this strategy is the development of local data centres and a strong emphasis on data residency. As more organisations migrate their operations to the cloud, the ability to store and manage data locally is becoming increasingly important, particularly for businesses navigating regulatory requirements and data security considerations.

Paramasivam also highlighted the growing demand for integrated business technology. Rather than relying on fragmented systems, companies are increasingly looking for connected solutions that bring together their operations, improve efficiency, and enable more informed decision-making.

Artificial intelligence is another important part of Zoho’s strategy. However, Paramasivam emphasised that AI should be embedded meaningfully across business operations, serving as an enabler rather than a replacement for existing technology or human understanding.

As Saudi Arabia continues to advance its digital economy, Zoho’s investment reflects the growing role of cloud infrastructure, integrated technology, and practical AI adoption in supporting the Kingdom’s business ecosystem.