Sabic inaugurated its prestigious new headquarters in Riyadh last month.

The new HQ was inaugurated by Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud at a ceremony making the company's 25th anniversary celebrations.

Prince Abdullah also honoured Sabic's long-serving employees who have contributed to the success of the company.

Based in the Kortoba district of Riyadh, and occupying a massive 284,500 sq m site, the headquarters is a major landmark on the highway leading from the King Khalid International Airport to Riyadh city.

The 16-storey twin towers represent the new face of Sabic - a combination of the modern and the traditional.

The two towers merge into a single block at the 13th level. The building has capacity for over 2,000 corporate staff including the senior management, the business groups and support services.

Facilities include an auditorium and exhibition building, a cafeteria, mosque, multi-storey parking for 1,500 cars, basement parking for senior executives, gymnasium, swimming pool and squash and volleyball courts for employees. The headquarters has its own sewage treatment plant and a warehouse building.

Speaking on the occasion, chairman of the Sabic board, and Minister of Industry and Electricity Dr Hashim Yamani said: "I am delighted that Prince Abdullah has opened our spectacular new building as part of the anniversary celebrations. In our first 25 years we have grown to become the 11th largest petrochemicals company in the world with major investment in production, marketing and technology. I would like to thank him for his continued support towards Sabic, and for his ongoing visits not only at our headquarters, but also at our manufacturing plants in Jubail and Yanbu."

Vice chairman and managing director Mohamed Al Mady said: "Twenty-five years ago, Sabic existed only on paper, but in the minds of our founders there was a vision to build a global petrochemicals company. We have grown and developed since those early beginnings and the building we have moved into reflects our global aspirations. At the heart of all of these changes has been the dedication of employees worldwide, and with their continued effort and commitment we aim to realise our vision. By using our experience and skills to be found not only here in Saudi Arabia, but across all four continents that aim can become reality."

Dr Yamani said the corporation's research and development division had produced more than 200 patents.

He said that Sabic planned to launch an annual prize to encourage Saudis engaged in scientific research that would further the goal of development, and expressed his hope that Prince Abdullah would agree to have the prize named after him.