Saudi Arabia Aims at 50 Per Cent Localization of Defense Spending by 2030

The Saudi Arabian Military Industries (SAMI) and the General Authority for Defense Development have jointly announced the initiation of two indigenous defense programs as part of their strategy to localize 50% of the Kingdom's defense spending by 2030.

These programs, valued at 664 million Saudi riyals, are scheduled to span four years. SAMI will collaborate with national development centers and Saudi universities to address the specific requirements of the country's defense and security authorities.

The primary goal of the General Authority for Defense Development is to guide and facilitate defense development activities within national development centers and universities, aligning them with the distinct needs of defense and security authorities. This initiative involves partnerships with national companies to manufacture the results and outputs of these programs.

The contracts announced in this release signify the initial phase of the Authority's broader strategy to support and invigorate the Saudi defense development sector. Additional programs are in the pipeline to further enhance and stimulate this vital sector.

Significant emphasis is placed on investing in Saudi national universities, as they are considered to have the necessary qualified human resources to make substantial contributions to defense development in the Kingdom.

Under the leadership of CEO Engineer Walid bin Abdul Majeed Abu Khaled, SAMI underscores its pivotal role in localizing defense industries and achieving the Saudi leadership's ambitious goal of localizing 50% of the Kingdom's defense spending by 2030.

These programs will specifically concentrate on the development of critical technologies, including software-defined communications systems, surveillance, reconnaissance, and response systems for drones. Collaborative efforts with universities and national development centers will be complemented by the establishment of dedicated laboratories to support the development of relevant technologies. Additionally, grants for qualitative research in these fields will be provided under the direct supervision and financial support of the Authority.