How London Business School Is Expanding Its Long-Term Role in Saudi Arabia
Successful execution in Saudi Arabia depends first and foremost on developing and empowering the Saudi workforce, and with that, the demand for strategic leadership has never been more pressing.
Organizations driving the country’s continued transformation need executives who can think across borders, lead through ambiguity, and communicate credibly to international capital markets, bringing the global perspective the Kingdom’s ambitions require. That demand has created fertile ground for one of the world’s leading business schools to establish a physical presence in Saudi Arabia.
London Business School (LBS), consistently ranked among the top business schools globally, officially opened its Executive Education Office in Riyadh in November 2025, with the support from the AstroLabs team. Located in the historical Diriyah, the office consolidates the school’s long-term commitment to the Kingdom and reinforces a relationship it has built over more than a decade with Saudi institutions, executives, and organizations.
Building Leadership Capacity for Saudi Arabia’s Next Phase of Growth
Over the past decade, more than 200 Saudi nationals have completed MBA and Executive MBA degrees at LBS, with Saudi women representing a growing share of this cohort. Regionally, Saudi nationals have also become the largest national group in LBS’ Dubai Executive MBA cohort. Over the 2022-23 period alone, 6,776 Saudi participants attended LBS Executive Education programs.
This sustained engagement reflects Saudi Arabia’s long-standing importance as a global market for London Business School. Over the years, the school has built long-standing partnerships with several leading Saudi organizations, which have played an important role in supporting and encouraging LBS’ expansion into the Kingdom.
H.E. Dr. Eiman Al-Mutairi, Vice Minister of Commerce, KSA, remarked at the opening, "Saudi Arabia has always valued global partnerships, and LBS, one of the world’s most respected institutions, has long been a destination for our talent.”
“Our approach is deeply collaborative. We work shoulder to shoulder with our partners. First, we take the time to understand their context – what they are trying to achieve, the challenges and opportunities they face, and what they need. Then, we recommend and design with them, learning experiences that enable their leaders to achieve their individual, team and organizational objectives,” says Helen Kerkentzes, Associate Dean of Executive Education, LBS.
“We are delighted that LBS faculty are now working with organizations throughout the Kingdom, actively capturing the country’s transformation through an expanding number of case studies. These case studies bring important learning into the LBS classroom for people in Saudi Arabia and beyond.”
“When LBS began exploring market entry options in 2024, We engaged with several local companies in Saudi Arabia that support international organizations in establishing a physical presence and expansion in the Kingdom. AstroLabs quickly emerged as a valuable partner supporting its establishment in the Kingdom.” says Sada Al-Janabi, Senior Advisor at Executive Education
LBS’ business setup process followed a clear timeline. In April 2024 LBS began to explore market entry options. By mid-2025 it had secured its commercial registration and MISA license, and announced its decision to open an Executive Education office, marking the milestone in Riyadh alongside three government ministers. The Executive Education Office in Diriyah opened later that year. says Sada Al-Janabi, Senior Advisor at Executive Education
“With a strong market understanding and practical insight into how international institutions can establish and scale in Saudi Arabia, AstroLabs has been an important partner for LBS as we build sustainable, long-term impact in the Kingdom,” says Helen Kerkentzes, Associate Dean of Executive Education, LBS.
Executive Education Growth Meets Rising Market Sophistication
Executive education is becoming one of the most dynamic segments of higher education, driven by structural workforce shifts and national capability-building priorities. Sovereign mandates such as the Human Capability Development Program (HCDP), a core Vision 2030 initiative, requires public and semi-government entities to invest in leadership development on a scale.
At the same time, the Saudization (Nitaqat) mandate has significantly increased Saudi participation in the private sector, with employment rising by 35% to 2.34 million over five years. And as workforce integration deepens, the focus is shifting from employment to leadership development, positioning executive education as a critical bridge to executive readiness.
In response, LBS has positioned its Saudi programs at precisely that bridge, connecting organizational transformation with the leadership capacity to sustain it.
“Participants in our Saudi programs are often already in significant leadership roles, applying what they learn in organizations operating across the Kingdom's giga-programs and newly commercialized sectors,” says Professor Florin Vasvari, Executive Dean of Executive Education, Middle East.
“LBS’ mission is to have a profound impact on the way the world does business and the way business impacts the world, and our executive education programs in Saudi Arabia support the Kingdom’s investment in the current and future leaders driving transformation.”
These dynamics signal a rising level of sophistication in market expectations, reflected not just in participation rates but also in the increasingly precise requirements of Saudi entities.
“Saudi executives and organizations know what they want,” says Helen Kerkentzes, Associate Dean of Executive Education, LBS. “They are seeking specific capabilities tied to the national agenda: strategic leadership for diversification, governance skills for entities transitioning to commercial models, and innovation frameworks for industries being built from the ground up.”
This has shaped LBS’ approach from the start. Rather than deploying standardized programs, the school has developed tailored executive education offerings for the Saudi market while strengthening partnerships with leading organizations in the kingdom
“Developing strong local partnerships and establishing a physical local presence supports deep relationships, sustained engagement and maximum impact,” Kerkentzes says.
Looking ahead, the school aims to empower 10,000 Saudi leaders and partner with 100 organizations by 2030. This reflects LBS’ sustained institutional commitment to developing Saudi leadership capabilities and bringing global perspectives to shape Saudi Arabia’s next era of growth.