Pinsent Masons: A Strategic Legal Partner for Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 and Beyond

With the official launch of its independent office in Riyadh, international law firm Pinsent Masons reaffirms its long-term commitment to Saudi Arabia’s evolving legal and economic landscape. In an exclusive interview with Al Riyadh Daily, Ibrahim Alajaji, Partner and Head of Pinsent Masons’ Saudi Arabia office, outlines the firm’s priorities in supporting Vision 2030, its role in mega and giga projects, the development of local legal talent, and the expanding opportunities for foreign direct investment. Through its integrated international expertise and strong local presence, the firm is poised to play a pivotal role in driving regulatory innovation, economic diversification, and sustainable growth in the Kingdom.

- With the opening of Pinsent Masons' new office in Saudi Arabia, what are the key priorities for the firm in supporting the Kingdom’s legal and business environment?

The opening of our new office in Saudi Arabia is a significant milestone for Pinsent Masons, and we look forward to the unique opportunities it presents, particularly in the Retail, Sports and Leisure, Construction & Housing, Renewables, and Mining, Public Private Partnerships,  and Transport sectors. Our key priorities in supporting the Kingdom’ of Saudi Arabia’s legal and business environment stem from our overarching purpose statement to “Champion change, promote progress and enable everyone to make business work better for people.”

Firstly, we aim to champion change by prioritizing our contribution to Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030. This ambitious initiative aims to diversify the economy and reduce its dependence on oil. We are particularly keen to advise on the giga-projects that are central to this vision, providing our expertise to help bring these transformative projects to fruition. 

Secondly, we strive to promote progress by enhancing local expertise. We believe in the importance of integrating local legal talent into our international team and providing them with structured training programmes that will allow them to unlock their full potential. By doing our part in training young local professionals, we hope to enable them to actively participate in the Kingdom’s progression towards becoming a developed and leading market. 

Thirdly, we seek to enable everyone to make business work better for people by navigating the regulatory reforms that are rapidly transforming the legal landscape in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Our goal is to help our clients remain compliant with new regulations and reforms, ensuring they can operate smoothly and efficiently within the Kingdom. We refer to our firm as ‘a purpose-led professional services business with law at the core’ as we aim to advise our clients at every stage of their business and project lifecycles. We act as trusted advisers, seeking to deliver innovative solutions to make business work better for people.

- How is Pinsent Masons aligning its legal expertise and global best practices with the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030, especially in sectors such as infrastructure, energy, and public-private partnerships?

Our approach is multifaceted and deeply integrated with KSA’s ambitious national goals. Firstly, in the infrastructure sector, we leverage our extensive experience to support the development of major projects. Our team advises on all aspects of project lifecycles, from procurement and structuring to funding and delivery. This comprehensive approach ensures that we can provide the necessary legal support to help realise the Kingdom’s vision of modernising its infrastructure.

In the energy sector, we bring our expertise in both conventional and renewable energy projects. We are committed to supporting Saudi Arabia’s transition to a diversified energy mix, in line with Vision 2030’s sustainability goals. Our legal advice covers everything from regulatory compliance to innovative financing solutions, ensuring that energy projects are both viable and aligned with global best practices.

Public-private partnerships (PPPs) are another critical area; We have served as one of the initial advisors on PPP projects since their inception in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, granting us a proven track record of advising on PPP structures that facilitate collaboration between the public and private sectors. Our role includes ensuring that these partnerships are structured to deliver maximum value while adhering to regulatory requirements. This approach helps to attract foreign investment and drive economic growth in KSA.

- As a law firm with a strong international presence, how do you see the evolution of Saudi Arabia’s regulatory landscape impacting foreign direct investment and cross-border collaborations?

The country has been through a huge period of economic and cultural change over the last century. The appointment of Mohammed bin Salman (MBS) as Crown Prince has led to a huge programme of social, and economic change in Saudi, including significantly improving women's rights, investing in the opening the economy, and transforming the judicial system, civil laws, and courts.  

From a legal industry perspective, we are currently seeing mass movement into Saudi by many international firms seeking to capitalise on one of the fastest growing economies in the world.  At Pinsent Masons, we see the evolution of Saudi Arabia's regulatory landscape is poised to significantly impact foreign direct investment (FDI) and cross-border collaborations. The recent regulatory changes, aligned with Vision 2030, aim to create a more attractive and transparent investment environment, increasing investor confidence and supporting economic growth. These reforms simplify the investment process and offer incentives, particularly benefiting sectors like technology, healthcare, and renewable energy. Additionally, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has introduced the Civil Transactions Law in 2023. The Civil Transactions Law comprises 721 articles that address various aspects such as the creation, execution, and termination of contracts, actions causing harm akin to tortious acts, and issues related to loss and damages. It also includes specific rules for different types of contracts like sales, leases, agency, and construction agreements. These regulations aim to simplify the understanding of contractual rights and duties for businesses, thereby increasing the predictability and reliability of conducting business in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The CTL has made it easier for businesses to enter into contracts, whilst better understanding their rights and obligations under local law.  The codification of Saudi Arabia's civil law aligns it with other fast-evolving regions in the Middle East, such as the UAE and Qatar, and with nations that have established civil law systems, like France and Spain. Overall, the codification of Civil law is expected to enhance Saudi Arabia's appeal as a destination for international business and investment.

- Talent development is a key pillar of Vision 2030. How is Pinsent Masons contributing to building and nurturing local legal talent in the KSA?

Investing in Saudi talent is a cornerstone of our presence in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Our commitment extends beyond hiring; we strive to nurture young local talent and help them unlock their full potential. We achieve this through mentorship programs that shape their careers. One of our key strategies is partnering with local institutions and universities, not merely as a formality, but because we genuinely believe that the next generation of Saudi lawyers will define the future of the profession.

- What role does Pinsent Masons play in advising on mega and giga projects in Saudi Arabia, and how do you help clients navigate complex legal and commercial frameworks?

Pinsent Masons plays a strategic and long-standing role in supporting the delivery of Saudi Arabia’s most ambitious national initiatives under Vision 2030. Since the early stages of the Vision, we have advised on the legal and commercial structuring of transformational giga projects across the Kingdom—including in the energy, infrastructure, tourism, healthcare, and digital economy sectors.

Our Riyadh office, backed by decades of global experience and deep local insight, is fully embedded in Saudi Arabia’s evolving regulatory and procurement landscape. We operate at the intersection of policy, law, and execution—helping clients navigate complex frameworks ranging from land development and PPP structures to ESG compliance, project finance, and stakeholder governance. Through our integrated international team, we combine sector-specific expertise with a forward-looking approach that is closely aligned with the Kingdom’s rapid reforms and the scale of its giga projects. This enables us to provide clients with commercially grounded, legally sound solutions across the full project lifecycle.

- Looking ahead, what are the emerging legal trends and opportunities you foresee in the Kingdom’s fast-transforming economy, and how is your firm preparing to address them?

We foresee several emerging legal trends and opportunities in Saudi Arabia's rapidly transforming economy. Vision 2030 is driving privatization, public-private partnerships (PPPs), technological advancements, and sustainability initiatives. The enforcement of the Saudi Personal Data Protection Law (PDPL) and ongoing legal codification are creating a more predictable and transparent environment, attracting foreign investment. As with the legal industry globally, the Saudi market will be shaped by technological development, as firms new to the region seek to embed tech in their offer to clients. Similarly, greater investment in the region will see the trends in type of mandates shift, to reflect the infrastructural development that comes with this level of investment.

Pinsent Masons is adopting several strategies to address the anticipated trends. Most importantly, we have expanded our local presence on March 1st, 2025, by launching an official independent office in Riyadh. Additionally, Pinsent Masons is recognized for its innovative approach to legal service delivery.  We utilize advanced technologies and methodologies to enhance efficiency and client satisfaction in Saudi Arabia and globally.  By applying our strategies, we are well-positioned to support clients in navigating Saudi Arabia's evolving economy.