RIYADH — A Royal Decree has been issued granting Saudi citizenship to American businessman and Uber co-founder, Travis Kalanick, as part of the Kingdom’s ongoing initiative to attract exceptional global talent and expertise in alignment with Saudi Vision 2030.
Kalanick joins a select group of distinguished scientists, innovators, and entrepreneurs who have received Saudi citizenship under a national program designed to foster innovation, investment, and human capital development.
Recognized as one of the world’s most influential tech entrepreneurs, Kalanick brings over 26 years of experience in founding and scaling technology start-ups. He co-founded Uber, which achieved a market valuation of $150 billion between its inception and 2017.
Currently, Kalanick serves as CEO of CloudKitchens, a global leader in delivery-based commercial kitchens, with operations spanning more than 400 locations worldwide, including branches in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and the UAE, operating under the KitchenPark brand. He also led a major deal securing $1.25 billion in investments to accelerate the company’s regional expansion. In addition, he established the 10100 Fund, an investment vehicle focusing on real estate, e-commerce, and emerging innovations in markets such as China and India.
Economist Dr. Abdulrahman Al-Ghamdi noted that “granting citizenship to global leaders like Kalanick strengthens investor confidence in Saudi Arabia’s business environment and positions the Kingdom as a global hub for innovative minds.”
This royal move underscores Saudi Arabia’s strategic commitment to building a knowledge-based economy, attracting world-class investors, and supporting innovation-driven sectors including technology, tourism, and entrepreneurship — all key pillars of Vision 2030.
