Announced Saudi Arabia retail expansion with $2.66B supplier spending despite ongoing human rights concerns
In December 2024, Apple announced plans to launch an online store in Saudi Arabia in summer 2025 and open flagship retail stores starting 2026, including an 'iconic' store in Diriyah. Apple disclosed spending over $2.66 billion with Saudi suppliers over five years. The expansion proceeds despite Saudi Arabia's documented record of censorship, surveillance, and human rights abuses.
1 source 1 confirming
Launched Saudi Arabia cloud region with state-owned Aramco despite 39 human rights organizations' opposition
Google launched its Dammam cloud region in November 2023 in partnership with Saudi Aramco despite opposition from 39 human rights organizations. Google refused to make its human rights assessment public. At the 2022 shareholder meeting, 57.6% of independent shareholders voted for transparency, but Alphabet's multi-class voting structure allowed leadership to defeat the proposal.
1 source 1 confirming
Microsoft · $2100.0M Feb 6, 2023 Invested $2.1 billion in Saudi Arabia datacenter despite human rights protests from 18 organizations
Microsoft announced a $2.1 billion investment in a cloud datacenter region in Saudi Arabia in February 2023. Human Rights Watch and 17 other human rights organizations called on Microsoft to suspend plans, citing Saudi Arabia's surveillance laws, targeting of dissidents, and use of spyware. Microsoft refused to make its human rights assessment public and proceeded with the project, completing construction in December 2024.
1 source 1 confirming
Sold zero-click spyware to Saudi Arabia after kingdom lost NSO Pegasus license over Khashoggi murder
In 2021, QuaDream began working with Saudi Arabia following the killing of dissident journalist Jamal Khashoggi. Riyadh reportedly lost its NSO Pegasus license after it was allegedly used in the lead-up to Khashoggi's 2018 murder. QuaDream filled the gap with its REIGN spyware capable of zero-click iPhone exploits.
1 source 1 confirming