Massive space for tech startups opens in Riyadh

The nap zone is a monochromatic grey room, built with insulated walls to insure a quiet space for employees looking to rest. (Supplied)

The building decorated with graffiti and color covers an area of 28,000 sq meters accommodating 300 startup companies, 24 conference rooms, and an event space for 1,000 people. (Supplied)

The startup district focuses on local and international start ups with the motto of “The Garage is your place to work, to live, and to meet people that share same interest as yours.” (Supplied)

• The Garage, once a building for parking, can accommodate 300 startup companies
• The project manager of The Garage, Ibrahim Nasrallah, said that while the idea of having a space for startup companies has been done before, it has never been done on this scale

RIYADH: A new building to house and support innovative technology startups opened in Riyadh on Monday.
The Garage, once a building for parking, provides a space of 28,000 square meters and can accommodate 300 startups. It has 24 conference rooms and an events area for up to 1,000 people.
The project manager of The Garage, Ibrahim Nasrallah, said that while the idea of having a space for startup companies has been done before, it has never been done on this scale.
He said: “We wanted to bring this idea into the Saudi market and launch this project. This project is considered one of the biggest in terms of size on a global level.”
Nasrallah said that to maintain the feel of a garage, the creative team decided to keep the building close to the original design.
He added: “The idea was created by transforming the building into a workshop for the companies in the IT industry, specifically in a luxurious way. For the preservation of the atmosphere, we decided to keep the curbstone, the car ramps, and open ceiling to maintain an industrial feel.”
Nasrallah said that the project took eight months to complete. It features an office for important guests, an outdoor sky bar, a nap area, a hackathon space, and events and meeting areas.
Electromechanical subcontractor Omar Aboissa said that the nap zone was a new concept for businesses in the Kingdom.
He said: “In Saudi Arabia, this idea is considered new. However, globally, many software companies aim to create an environment where employees can rest throughout the day.
“In addition to the nap zone, we have also designed an area for gaming, a lounge, a cafe, and other amenities to ensure that employees can find everything they need without having to leave the building.”
The Garage has curated three programs for enterprises to join: Incubation, The Garage Plus, and The Garage Disrupt.
The Incubation program offers services for early-stage enterprises to grow. The Garage Plus targets tech small and medium enterprises in partnership with Google for Startups. The Garage Disrupt is a monthly networking public event that aims to connect players in the technology industry.
The Garage focuses on local and international startups with the motto of “The Garage is your place to work, to live, and to meet people who share the same interests as you.”