Crystal Magazine Sep 14, 2026
L’ORÉAL GROUPE CONTINUES TO EXPAND IN SAUDI ARABIA, DOUBLING ITS WORKFORCE AND SHAPING AN INNOVATIVE AND SUSTAINABLE FUTURE FOR BEAUTY IN THE KINGDOM
L’Oréal Groupe continues to expand its presence and contribution in Saudi Arabia, with its local workforce doubling in 2026 and young Saudi talent now representing more than 50% of the team. This expansion reflects the growing strategic importance of the Kingdom to L’Oréal and an increased focus on national talent development, professional beauty education, the creator economy, and sustainable infrastructure.
This strategic momentum was highlighted during an official market visit by Vismay Sharma, President of L’Oréal South Asia Pacific, Middle East, and North Africa (SAPMENA) Zone, reaffirming the group’s long-term commitment to growing with the Kingdom and supporting its national transformation priorities.
Vismay Sharma said: “Saudi Arabia is one of the most dynamic beauty markets in our region and an increasingly strategic market for L’Oréal. As the Kingdom undergoes economic transformation, we are committed to grow alongside it by developing Saudi talent, supporting new models of entrepreneurship and contributing to a thriving beauty ecosystem. Doubling our local workforce in Saudi Arabia is a clear testament to our long-term confidence in the Kingdom.”
The visit highlighted a series of strategic initiatives and milestones across socio-economic contribution, youth and women employment, sustainable expansion, and active contribution to the Kingdom’s digital transformation journey.
Socio-Economic Impact: Saudi Talent Represents More Than 50% of L’Oréal’s Local Workforce
Saudi Arabia’s national transformation is cultivating a business ecosystem that empowers global leaders to drive long-term value. Aligning with this vision, L’Oréal has doubled its Saudi workforce, with young local talent now representing over 50% of the L’Oréal Saudi team.
According to an independent economic impact study by Paris-based consultancy Asterès, L’Oréal’s value chain supports 8,765 direct and indirect jobs across Saudi Arabia, while L’Oréal’s operations in the Kingdom generate SAR 3.2 billion in sales, spanning an extensive network of suppliers, distributors and service partners.
Empowering Saudi women through vocational excellence: L’Oréal Targets 1,000 graduates by 2029
L’Oréal advances the socio-economic participation of women across the Kingdom through the L’Oréal Professionnel Hairdressing Academy. The academy recently celebrated the graduation of its newest cohort of Saudi female hairstylists, bringing the total number of graduates to 200 since the programme began.
Held in partnership with leading local universities and accredited by the Technical and Vocational Training Corporation (TVTC) with support from the Human Resources Development Fund (Hadaf), the academy provides certified vocational training and structured career pathways, progressing towards its target to train and certify more than 1,000 Saudi women by 2029.
Fostering a vibrant Creator Economy: Official Launch of Lorealistar in Saudi Arabia
L’Oréal is fostering the Kingdom’s digital landscape with the official launch of Lorealistar, the group’s inaugural multi-brand creator loyalty platform in Saudi Arabia.
Representing a strategic shift from transactional influencer engagements towards a sustainable, relationship-first model, Lorealistar is designed to invest in the local creator community, supporting their growth. The platform welcomes Saudi creators with a shared passion for beauty and at least 1,000 followers, providing creators with direct access to structured professional upskilling, exclusive brand experiences and long-term collaborations.
Advancing Beauty Tech and Open Innovation: LEAP 2025
L’Oréal Groupe showcased its cutting-edge Beauty Tech innovations at LEAP 2025, one of the world’s largest technology events held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. As the only beauty tech company participating, L’Oréal showcased over 20 AI-driven, sustainable, and inclusive beauty innovations designed to deliver personalized solutions.
The group’s presence at LEAP 2025 extended beyond the booth, featuring a series of thought-provoking discussions by senior management on the future of beauty. This participation underscored the group’s commitment to driving innovation and the evolution of the beauty industry in the region, while actively engaging with promising Saudi startups through open innovation initiatives.
Shaping a Sustainable Beauty Ecosystem: LEED-Certified Jeddah Office
Complementing its contributions to human capital and the creator economy, L’Oréal is scaling its commitment to the Kingdom’s sustainability goals.
The group has achieved the prestigious LEED Commercial Interiors certification for its newly opened office at the Saleh Kamel Business Center in Jeddah, establishing a high-performance sustainability benchmark that directly supports the Saudi Green Initiative (SGI). This recognition underscores the group’s commitment to sustainable growth by integrating environmental responsibility into its core infrastructure, aligning directly with the Kingdom's national resource efficiency goals.
“Our growth in Saudi Arabia is about creating tangible value locally: developing Saudi talent, expanding professional opportunities for women, supporting the Kingdom's growing creator community, and building a more sustainable beauty ecosystem. We are proud of the progress we have achieved, and as the Kingdom becomes an increasingly strategic market for the group, our ambition is to continue expanding our contribution alongside our partners, institutions, and communities across the country."- said Laurent Duffier, Managing Director of L’Oréal Saudi Arabia.
