By Andrew Mulligan, Managing Director, INC KSA
Saudi Arabia is experiencing one of the most transformative economic and regulatory shifts in the world and the legal sector is paying close attention. In the past two years, INC has witnessed a growing wave of international law firms establishing operations in the Kingdom, driven by regulatory reform, commercial opportunity, and a desire to cement their regional presence as early movers.
Across the group, INC, has had the opportunity to work with many of the world’s leading names in legal.
With over 25,000 m2 of legal projects delivered across the Middle East, INC draw not only on regional capability but on global experience. Members of our senior team have collectively led the delivery of more than 215,000 m2 of law firm spaces worldwide, primarily in the United States. This depth of sector-specific expertise, particularly in professional services environments, informs every decision we make on the ground in Saudi Arabia.
Most recently, we were proud to have delivered the new Riyadh office for Norton Rose Fulbright, designed by global architecture and design firm AAID and PMC Turner & Townsend. A prime example of collaboration between expert design and proven local delivery.
Regulatory Reforms Are Opening the Legal Market to the World
The catalyst for this influx lies in Saudi Arabia’s landmark reforms, especially the new Investment Law, which took effect this year. Designed to attract foreign direct investment, the law introduces enhanced protections for international investors, simplified remittance processes, and significant tax incentives. According to MEED (May 2025), these changes are core to the Kingdom’s strategy of achieving $100 billion in annual Foreign Direct Investment by 2030, a bold target, but one that is already reducing its reliance on oil through diversification.
As Tariq Sheikh, Partner at Klyse Advisory, noted in a recent piece on LinkedIn (2025),
“The global legal market is undergoing a seismic shift in focus. Where Greater China once dominated the expansion strategies of major international law firms, the Middle East, particularly Saudi Arabia, now stands out as the new epicentre of growth.” INC are seeing this play out in real time.
Another key driver is Saudi Arabia’s Regional Headquarters Programme, which mandates that international companies must have established their regional HQ in the Kingdom by 2024 to be eligible for government contracts. For law firms with public sector clients or ambitions to expand into advisory and regulatory work, this shift has moved market entry from a strategic option to a business necessity.
Riyadh’s Office Market: Competitive, Compressed, and Strategic
The rise in legal activity coincides with skyrocketing demand for high-quality office space. Riyadh’s Grade A market remains consistent, with 98% occupancy since Q4 2024. Rents maintained an upward trend, increasing by 12% year-on-year. Key districts such as Zone A and Zone C recorded annual rental growth of 16%, reflecting elevated interest and limited supply in high-performing areas, according to the Savills Riyadh Office Market Report Q1 2025.
This is further backed by JLL’s Q1 report “Riyadh’s city-wide vacancy rate reached a low of 1.3% in Q1 2025, indicating an extremely tight market. This scarcity of available space is driving intense competition among tenants, particularly for prime locations”.
Interestingly in Q1, around 70% of enquiries were for office spaces under 1,000 m2. This reflects the legal sector’s preference for compact, high-impact environments that balance flexibility and efficiency. It also reflects the pressure, securing the right space, in the right tower, at the right time.
Fit-Out Delivery in KSA: What Law Firms Need to Know
Establishing a new office in Riyadh goes beyond design. It involves navigating a distinct approval ecosystem, coordinating closely with landlords, and working within a tightly regulated construction framework, all while adhering to brand and operational requirements set by regional and global stakeholders.
That’s where INC comes in. We specialise in delivering traditional or turnkey design and build solutions, with a strong local team based in Riyadh and regional support from the UAE and Africa. Our value lies not only in creativity and execution but in our fluency in both local compliance and international expectations.
Our expertise has been recognised with two significant accolades this year: Fit-Out Firm of the Year 2025 by Design Middle East, and Sustainable Contractor of the Year 2025 at the Sustainable Innovation Summit. These awards reflect our ongoing commitment to innovation, excellence, and environmentally responsible delivery.
Whether it’s acoustic privacy for client confidentiality, high-tech meeting room configurations, or integrating global brand guidelines, we build with purpose and always with a full understanding of what legal teams need to function, grow, and lead.
Early Movers Are Gaining Ground
Riyadh is now home to over 540 licensed regional headquarters (Savills, 2025), and that number continues to rise. For law firms, the message is clear: local presence is no longer optional, it’s fundamental.
And the firms that invest early in space, in people, in infrastructure are the ones most likely to shape and lead the future of legal practice in Saudi Arabia.
We believe that creating a professional, future-ready space is not just a tactical move it’s a strategic one. And at INC, we’re proud to be transforming the spaces where that future begins.
See why the world’s top law firms choose INC – Contact info@inc-solutions.com to receive our 2025 Legal Portfolio. For enquiries in Saudi Arabia, contact Niall Edmondson nedmondson@inc-solutions.com