RIYADH — Tech giant Apple has picked Riyadh as the headquarters of Apple Developer Academy, making the Saudi capital the first city in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region to host a branch of the premier institution. The landmark move comes as a fillip to the Kingdom's Vision 2030, and an affirmation of Saudi Arabia's leading role in the region. In its first phase, the academy will be dedicated to programmers and developers, in support of efforts for women empowerment and the ongoing massive social reforms under Vision 2030. As part of the agreement, the prestigious international company will work in tandem with the Saudi Federation for Cybersecurity, Programming and Drones represented by Tuwaiq Academy in partnership with Princess Nourah Bint Abdulrahman University