Kenya is set to expand its overseas investment promotion network into the Middle East with plans to establish a dedicated office in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, aimed at attracting foreign investment and strengthening commercial ties with Gulf businesses.
The Jeddah office will be the second pilot under Kenya’s International Investment Offices Model, following the launch of the inaugural office in Hangzhou, China. The government is seeking to position itself closer to major sources of foreign direct investment (FDI) as part of a broader strategy to establish dedicated investment offices in high-value jurisdictions.
According to the Kenyan Embassy in Riyadh, the proposed office will serve as a local commercial gateway for Saudi enterprises and institutional investors seeking opportunities in Kenya. “It will facilitate FDI, coordinate and promote Kenyan investment opportunities directly to Saudi enterprises and institutional investors,” the embassy said in a statement.
Once operational, the office will facilitate investment promotion, coordinate engagement with prospective investors, and showcase opportunities in Kenya and the wider African market. The initiative targets Saudi Arabia, which the embassy describes as an important trade and investment partner with significant potential for expanding bilateral commerce and attracting FDI.
Jeddah’s strategic position along the Red Sea is expected to provide a platform for engaging Saudi businesses and investors interested in Kenya, East Africa, and other African markets. The port city is a major commercial hub in the Kingdom and serves as a gateway for trade between the Middle East and Africa.
Kenya is modelling the initiative on international investment promotion agencies such as the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO), which operates an office in Riyadh as part of its global network. The proposed hub will also draw on Kenya’s diplomatic networks, bilateral economic frameworks, and existing strategic partnerships to deepen investment relations between the two countries.
The move builds on recent efforts to strengthen economic cooperation between Nairobi and Riyadh, including agreements signed in July 2026 on export promotion and an extension of the partnership between Saudi EXIM Bank and the Kenya Development Corporation. These agreements are expected to boost trade flows and provide financing for Kenyan enterprises seeking to access Gulf markets.
The Jeddah pilot is part of Kenya’s broader strategy to bring investment promotion closer to international capital and potential investors. The government has been actively working to diversify its sources of foreign investment beyond traditional partners, looking to the Gulf region as a growing source of capital for infrastructure, manufacturing, and technology sectors.
The establishment of the Jeddah office follows the launch of the Hangzhou office in China, which was designed to attract Chinese investment into Kenya’s manufacturing and industrial sectors. The success of that pilot is expected to inform the approach taken in Saudi Arabia.
Kenya has been deepening its diplomatic and economic engagement with Saudi Arabia in recent years, with the two countries signing several bilateral agreements covering trade, investment, and security cooperation. The new investment office is expected to further cement these ties and open new avenues for Saudi businesses to participate in Kenya’s economic growth.
