Saudi Arabia’s Kingdom Holding Co (KHC), founded and chaired by Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal, would explore potential investment opportunities in TikTok if the platform is acquired by Elon Musk or other prominent buyers.
KHC’s interest
KHC could consider either direct investment in TikTok or collaborative partnerships to expand the social media platform’s global reach and capabilities, the investment firm’s CEO Talal Ibrahim al-Maiman told Al Arabiya TV on Wednesday.
Al-Maiman said KHC continues to diversify its investments and expand its presence in local and global markets, which explains the interest in TikTok. He added that they are currently reviewing all available opportunities from Musk and others.
TikTok has faced regulatory scrutiny in the US and other countries over data privacy and security concerns, leading to speculation about potential acquisitions or restructurings.
The search for a buyer for the popular Chinese-owned short-video app remains ongoing in the US. President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Tuesday granting a 75-day reprieve from a ban that would have effectively shut down TikTok in the country. The move temporarily revived the app, allowing more time to explore potential buyers.
Potential TikTok buyers
Trump had said that he was open to billionaire Musk or Oracle Corp. Chairman Larry Ellison buying the app if they wanted to do so. It would be as part of a joint venture with the US government.
According to Trump, he would tell the interested party to give half to the US and the permit will be given.
KHC already holds stakes in Tesla CEO’s social media platform X and his artificial intelligence startup xAI. Saudi sovereign wealth fund, the Public Investment Fund (PIF), holds a minority stake in KHC, with 5% of the company floated on the Saudi stock exchange.
Security concerns
TikTok’s parent company, ByteDance, has faced intense scrutiny over allegations of data sharing with the Chinese government. The app’s vast US user base amplifies concerns about potential foreign influence.
US officials have pushed for TikTok to transition to non-Chinese ownership to mitigate risks. Discussions include outright acquisition or partnerships with US-based entities.
Recent discussions have sparked interest from prominent figures, including, global investment firms like KHC.
