Zoho Corp, the global technology company, has announced a $5 million investment plan over five years to support Bahrain’s startup ecosystem, alongside opening its first office and a data centre in the country. This move aligns with Bahrain’s Vision 2030 goals for economic diversification, innovation, and local talent development.
The Bahrain office will be staffed primarily by local professionals, reflecting Zoho’s “transnational localism” strategy aimed at strengthening the national workforce. Saran Paramsivam, Regional Director for MEA at Zoho, emphasized the company’s commitment to deepening ties with the local economy and nurturing Bahraini talent.
The announcement was made during Zoholics Bahrain, Zoho’s annual user conference. Zoho currently operates six offices across the GCC and runs two data centres in Saudi Arabia, with the Bahrain data centre marking its latest infrastructure expansion.
Zoho also collaborates with local partners to foster mutual growth while supporting Bahrain’s economy. Additionally, the company launched Ulaa Enterprise, a privacy-focused browser’s enterprise edition, in Bahrain to help organisations boost cybersecurity. Ulaa Enterprise offers centralized policy management, data loss prevention (DLP), and detailed user behavior controls, preventing unauthorized data transfers without relying on third-party software. Embedded with Zoho’s AI assistant Zia, it provides enhanced AI-driven security and productivity features.
In the past year, Zoho reported 28% revenue growth and a 19% increase in partner revenue in Bahrain, with a 22% expansion in its local partner network. Key products driving success include Zoho Books (VAT-compliant accounting), Zoho People (HR management), Zoho One (business operating system), Zoho Creator (low-code app platform), and Zoho CRM.
