Barcelona is now a magnet for international talent. In the past few years some of the world’s leading multinational companies have chosen the Catalan capital as a base thanks to the city’s low cost of living, cheap rents and competitive salaries as well as its excellent infrastructure and the unparalleled lifestyle it can offer its employees.

The 22@district in Poblenou is a hub for technological innovation and is also home to research centers and numerous start-ups. Thanks to a rise in the number of workers (estimated at around 100,000 since its launch in 2000), this regenerated area, and other districts where multinationals are based, have seen notable increases in the numbers of people looking to buy and rent.

Here we look at some of the multinational companies in Barcelona, all of which add to the city’s dynamism and enhance the city’s role as a leading player in attracting talent from all over the world. If you are interested in them, and you want to live next to them, here we have a list of luxury apartments for sale in Barcelona.

Top International Companies in Barcelona

Amazon

US e-commerce giant Amazon has based one of its five logistics centers in Spain in El Prat de Llobregat, close to Barcelona’s airport. Measuring 60,000 square meters, the center employs around 1,500 people, making it a significant hub for Amazon’s operations in Southern Europe.

In addition to its primary logistics center, Amazon’s presence in Barcelona is quite extensive. The company’s artificial intelligence investigation center, the seller support hub, and the support center for Southern SMEs are all strategically located in the innovative 22@district. This area, known for its focus on technology and startups, provides Amazon with a vibrant environment for research and development.

Amazon’s Prime Now center is situated in the Eixample district, a central and accessible location that facilitates rapid delivery services to the city’s residents. Recently, Amazon has also opened a state-of-the-art distribution center in Barberà del Vallès. This center is pioneering the use of ‘Pegasus’, an advanced robot designed to enhance efficiency in the distribution process.

Catalonia is not only a logistics hub for Amazon but also hosts several of its specialized centers. For instance, Amazon’s logistics warehouse in Martorelles and another logistics center specialized in Amazon Pantry in Castellbisbal are crucial for its operations, ensuring swift and efficient delivery of a wide range of products to customers across Spain.

Barcelona is also renowned for its luxury real estate market, attracting international buyers and investors. If you are looking to find the best properties, the best luxury real estate agency in Barcelona can offer unparalleled expertise and exclusive listings, making the city an attractive destination for both business and lifestyle.

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Facebook (meta)

Meta’s (formerly Facebook) center of operations for combatting ‘fake news’ (Competence Call Centre or CCC) has been based in the Torre Glories – the iconic skyscraper designed by the renowned architect Jean Nouvel – since the beginning of 2018. The social media giant occupies eight floors of this emblematic building and employs around 500 workers.

Owned by Merlin Properties, who acquired the tower from the Agbar group for €142 million, Torre Glories underwent a €15 million refurbishment to enhance its facilities and support high-profile tenants like Facebook. The CCC’s primary mission is to identify and remove hate speech, violent content, and fake news from its pages, ensuring a safe and trustworthy environment for its billions of users worldwide.

Glovo

Barcelona-based Glovo, a leading on-demand delivery service, has grown rapidly over the past few years. With its headquarters in the city, Glovo now operates in multiple countries and employs thousands of people globally. The company’s innovative platform allows users to order anything from food to groceries and pharmaceuticals, making it a key player in the gig economy. Glovo’s continued growth highlights Barcelona’s potential as a breeding ground for successful startups.

Microsoft

Microsoft has significantly expanded its presence in Barcelona, opening a new research and development hub in the 22@district. This facility focuses on artificial intelligence, cloud computing, and cybersecurity. Microsoft’s decision to invest in Barcelona underscores the city’s growing reputation as a tech innovation center. The new hub employs over 600 people, making it a key player in the local tech ecosystem.

eDreams ODIGEO

Launched 20 years ago, eDreams is now part of the ODIGEO group and is Europe’s largest online travel agency and one of the world’s largest e-commerce businesses. Under its four online travel agency brands – eDreams, GO Voyages, Opodo, Travellink, and the search engine ‘Liligo’ – eDreams ODIGEO offers the best deals in flights, hotels, cruises, car rentals, holiday packages, and travel insurance. It currently reaches around 18 million customers across 46 markets. Based in Carrer de Bailèn, in Eixample, eDreams ODIGEO is also listed on the Spanish Stock Market.

King

This multinational tech company, responsible for more than 20 video games including Candy Crush and Farm Heroes, has its European Headquarters in the 22@ district. Their offices occupy six floors (6,700 square meters) of a building owned by Colonial and the company currently employs around 600 people of 45 different nationalities.

King is one of 140 video game companies based in Barcelona, which together employ around 3,000 young people covering a range of skills including marketing, finance, design, and programming. Every month, an estimated 260 million people play games created by King on their mobile phones.

Aside from technology entities, Barcelona is also home to US co-working company WeWork, insurance company Zurich, pharmaceutical business Roche, credit card company Visa, and sports equipment shop Decathlon. Food giants Nestlé, Carrefour, and Lidl have established a strong presence in the city, with Lidl opening a new center of excellence for customer service and digital business management in the old BBVA building in Plaça Catalunya, employing 250 staff.

There are also many more international companies either already based or planning to relocate to Barcelona, all wanting a piece of the talent and lifestyle that the Catalan capital offers.

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Aside from technology entities, Barcelona is also home to US co-working company WeWork, insurance company Zurich, pharmaceutical business Roche, credit card company Visa, sports equipment shop Decathlon, food giants Nestlé, Carrefour and Lidl, which has a new center of excellence for customer service and digital business management in the old BBVA building in Plaça Catalunya, employing 250 staff.