As Saudi Arabia attracts more international businesses, Riyadh’s Mayor Prince Faisal bin Abdulaziz bin Ayyaf says his city is vying for top executives with the likes of New York and Tokyo.

“Competition for talent is no longer regional or local – it’s global,” he said in an interview with Arab News.

The Saudi capital is working to enhance the quality of life for expats in ways that will persuade the best and brightest to relocate, the Mayor said.

Major international banks, law firms and companies have established their regional headquarters in Riyadh since the kingdom made that a prerequisite this year for the awarding of government contracts.