The Children’s Place Sets Return to Saudi Arabia

The Children’s Place (Secaucus, N.J.) has unveiled plans to return to the Saudi Arabian market. Though the specialty retailer did not say how many stores it planned for the kingdom, it did say it planned to open a flagship in the capital of Riyadh by the end of this year.

The expansion comes via a partnership between the retailer and Al Othaim Life Co., which will serve as The Children’s Place’s operating partner in the kingdom, supporting the brand’s expansion and long-term presence in the region.

“We are thrilled to partner with Al Othaim as we re-enter the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia,” said the retailer’s President and CEO, Muhammad Umair. “This agreement reflects our confidence in the market and our excitement about reconnecting with customers throughout the country. Al Othaim’s deep local expertise and strong retail presence make them an ideal partner for this next chapter.”

As mentioned, this marks the chain’s return to the country; it first set up shop there in 2014 via a franchise agreement with Fawaz A. AlHokair & Co. While information on when those specific stores closed was not immediately available, published reports show the chain did undertake a major downsizing of its physical footprint in 2020.

The Children’s Place’s latest move represents an extension of ties the retailer has with the Saudi business community. Though its stock is traded on the Nasdaq exchange, The Children’s Place is primarily owned by Mithaq Capital SPC, a Saudi investment group that acquired a controlling stake of between 54%–61% in February 2024, after the chain had unveiled liquidity problems. In the aftermath of that investment, Mithaq installed several directors on the retailer’s board. The chain currently operates just under 500 stores.