Michael Chalhoub, President of Strategy, Growth, Innovation & Investments and Joint Ventures,  at Chalhoub Group, commented: “"Amidst the vibrant landscape of innovation, we’re proud to open The Greenhouse in Riyadh, reaffirming our unwavering commitment to the Kingdom's burgeoning potential. Serving as a vibrant hub of creativity and collaboration, The Greenhouse is more than a physical space; it embodies our relentless dedication to nurturing Saudi Arabia's entrepreneurial ecosystem and igniting innovation. With initiatives like the Beauty Lab since 2020 and the Fashion Lab since 2021, which have supported local beauty and fashion entrepreneurs through our retail footprint in the Kingdom, The Greenhouse has already established a strong presence in KSA. The new Riyadh Greenhouse is now primed to further amplify opportunities to drive innovation with initiatives like Ibtikar - our in-house incubator for Chalhoub employees -, our Startup Studio and our retail technology accelerator. It epitomizes our strategic imperative to cultivate local talent, spur economic diversification, and forge global connections. As we embark on this transformative journey, we remain steadfast in our mission to propel Saudi Arabia to new heights nurturing the entrepreneurial spirit in the Kingdom."

Omar Al Shaaban, CEO and Co-founder of The Space, KSA, added: "The launch of The Greenhouse by Chalhoub Group in Riyadh opens new avenues for collaboration and innovation in Saudi Arabia. This will provide a unique platform for startups to connect, innovate, and grow. We look forward to driving positive change and contributing to the Kingdom’s entrepreneurial landscape.”


The Greenhouse brought over 25 international retail-tech solutions to the Group and the region through its accelerator programmes including its collaboration with L’Occitane MENA. Additionally, it has empowered 10 emerging and disruptive beauty creators in the MENA region with ‘The Beauty Lab’ incubator programme and fast-tracked the growth of five local fashion designers in Saudi Arabia with ‘The Fashion Lab’. It’s Ibtikar initiative has also fostered entrepreneurship while generating innovation internally through encouraging team members to test their ideas and empowering them with the necessary resources. The Greenhouse Startup Studio has co-created 20 high-potential ventures with founders, further solidifying its role as a catalyst for entrepreneurial success in the region.  

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ABOUT CHALHOUB GROUP 

INSPIRE | EXHILARATE | DELIGHT 

For over six decades, Chalhoub Group has been a partner and creator of luxury experiences in the Middle East. The Group, in its endeavour to excel as a hybrid retailer, has reinforced its distribution and marketing services with a portfolio of eight owned brands and over 300 international brands in the luxury, beauty, fashion, and art de vivre categories. More recently, the Group expanded its expertise into new categories of luxury watches, jewellery, and eyewear. 

Every step at Chalhoub Group is taken with the customer at heart. Be it constantly reinventing itself or focusing on innovation to provide luxury experiences at over 750+ experiential retail stores, online and through mobile apps, each touch point leads to delighting the customer.  

Today, Chalhoub Group stands for 15,000 skilled and talented professionals across eight countries, whose cohesive efforts have resulted in the Group being certified as a Great Place to Work® in several countries. 

To keep the innovation journey going, the Group has set up “The Greenhouse”, which is not just an innovation hub, but also an incubator space and accelerator for start-ups and small businesses in the region and internationally. This is just one of the several initiatives taken by the Group to reinvent itself, catalysed by forward thinking and future proofing. The Group has also been embedding sustainability at the core of its business strategy with a clear commitment towards people, partners and the planet, and by being a member of the United Nations Global Compact Community and signatory of the Women's Empowerment Principles. 

ABOUT THE GREENHOUSE 

The Greenhouse is Chalhoub Group's space for bold entrepreneurship and innovation. The Greenhouse is nurturing the next generation of successful entrepreneurs of the MENA region by building value through its distinct pillars, The Incubator, The Startup Studio and The Accelerator Programs.