At Zoholics Bahrain, Zoho revealed plans to invest in local talent through education and hiring local nationals. The announcement follows that at the Seamless Dubai event, where it announced a partnership with areeba for the sum of USD 5 million.
Correction: The article previously stated that Zoho would invest $500 million in Bahrain, this is not the case and the information was sourced from another publication which has since retracted, and Zoho has confirmed that it is not accurate.
Saran Paramsivam, Regional Director for MEA at Zoho, commented, “As part of our continued expansion in Bahrain, Zoho is deepening its commitment to the local economy by opening a dedicated office and investing in the development of local talent.”
“This move reflects our philosophy of transnational localism—bringing global innovation to local communities while respecting and nurturing regional strengths. By hiring locally and establishing a stronger on-ground presence, we aim to contribute to Bahrain’s growing digital ecosystem and support the country’s broader economic diversification goals.”
Zoho is also planning to expand its data centres within the region. This will enhance its ability to offer data sovereignty to organisations in the Kingdom and better performance to the wider Gulf region. In November last year, the firm also announced a partnership with The Collective Hub (TCH), Bahrain’s leading co-working space.
New Zoho customers can benefit from $2,500 worth of wallet credits for one year to use with Zoho cloud applications. Part of the Zoho for Startup programme, this initiative aims to help organisations within the Kingdom digitally transform.
The firm also announced that it will be opening its first office in the Kingdom following a 28% revenue growth in Bahrain. It also celebrated a 22% expansion in its partner network. Partners include ICIGAI, BGA Accounting and Consulting, Syskode Technologies, Infinigence Consulting, Pro Advisory Business Solutions W.L.L., Abdulaal IT Solutions, and Elyaa Audit and Consulting. Partners also increased their revenue contribution by 19% in the last year.
Products and launches
Zoho revealed that the top-selling products in the Kingdom were Zoho Books (VAT-compliant accounting software), Zoho People (HR management), Zoho One (operating system for businesses), Zoho Creator (low-code app development platform), and Zoho CRM. In addition, customers can now apply for early access to Zoho Payroll, which is now localised for the region.
Zoho also announced Ulaa Enterprise to the audience, which was recently launched at Zoholics US. The enterprise-class, secure privacy web browser provides tools for IT teams to better manage internet access amongst employees. The browser also includes Zia, as an embedded AI assistant, to drive both security and usability features. The browser is now available to customers across the Middle East and North Africa.
Paramsivam added, “It’s uncommon for businesses to consider investing in paid browsers as part of their security strategy. However, with the sharp rise in cyberattacks across the MENA—particularly those stemming from unsafe and unsecured browsing—this mindset is shifting.
“Ulaa Enterprise was built specifically for organisations that want to strengthen their first line of defence, enhance cybersecurity hygiene, and safeguard both their data and their customers’ trust.”
Enterprise Times: What does this mean
Zoho is doubling down in the Middle East, where it is already seeing considerable success. The investment in its data centre footprint and several offices in the region demonstrates its success in recent years. With local government investment in a digital-first strategy, it is clearly supporting the various government initiatives in the region.
Within Bahrain, its Digital First principles are a key component of the broader Economic Recovery plan and ICT Strategy. Bahrain aspires to be a regional leader in the digital economy, as it has launched many initiatives and projects aimed at supporting the growth of the digital sector, in line with the Bahrain Economic Vision 2030.
With the freemium option now available through TCH, many startups can try Zoho applications and see the benefits before they need to pay the full amount for using them. This approach seems to be working very well across the Middle East.
