Saudi Arabia highlights military growth at Airshow China
Kingdom’s defense industry aims to forge global partnerships at Zhuhai event
Defense sector is projected to contribute $17 billion to the Saudi economy by 2030
Updated 12 November 2024
Arab News
RIYADH: Military products and the achievements of both government bodies and national companies are highlighted at the Saudi pavilion at this year’s China International Aviation and Aerospace Exhibition.
Airshow China 2024, one of the world’s largest aviation expos, started in Zhuhai on Tuesday and will run until Nov. 17.
The Saudi pavilion features military products, particularly in aviation, and turns the spotlight on national companies that work in military industries. It also underscores efforts to boost national manufacturing capabilities and the aim of localizing over 50 percent of government spending on military equipment and services by 2030.
Launching events at the pavilion was the governor of the General Authority for Military Industries, Ahmad Al-Ohali, who was joined by Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Fayyad Al-Ruwaili and the Saudi ambassador to China, Abdulrahman Al-Harbi. Other officials, international investors and aviation and aerospace decision-makers were also present.
Al-Ohali said: “This strategic participation, occurring for the first time in China, aims to enhance the Kingdom’s global presence in the military industries sector and to solidify its position as one of the fastest-growing economies among the G20 nations.
“Our participation also seeks to establish fruitful international partnerships to empower and develop the military industries sector, while also promoting the Kingdom’s message of welcoming investors from around the world. Additionally, it aims to highlight the key objectives of Saudi Vision 2030 within the military sector.”
The defense sector is projected to contribute $17 billion to the Saudi economy by 2030, with a $9 billion addition to non-oil revenues. This will generate 100,000 direct and indirect jobs by the end of the decade.
The Saudi pavilion features government bodies such as the Ministry of Investment and the General Authority for Defense Development, as well as public national companies such as the National Company for Mechanical Systems, Saudi Wakeb Company for Artificial Intelligence and Autonomous Systems, Milestone Aviation, and Homat Al-Watan Co.
The General Authority for Military Industries works closely with partners and government bodies to empower national and international companies in the military industry, enhance the defense sector’s potential, and create investment opportunities.
It also focuses on localizing cutting-edge aerospace technologies to support Saudi economic growth and strengthen defense and security independence.
Saudi-UK military cooperation committee holds fourth meeting
Updated 11 December 2024
Arab News
RIYADH: The Saudi-UK Bilateral Military Cooperation Committee held its fourth meeting in Riyadh on Tuesday.
The meeting discussed bilateral relations, defense and military cooperation, and a number of topics of common interest.
Saudi Arabia’s Chief of the General Staff, Lieutenant General Fayyadh Al-Ruwaili, and the Chief of the UK Defense Staff, Admiral Sir Antony Radakin, co-chaired the meeting.
Senior Saudi and British officers attended the meeting.
Saudi foreign affairs minister discusses regional developments with French counterpart
Prince Faisal and Jean-Noel Barrot discussed topics of common interest
Updated 11 December 2024
Arab News
RIYADH: The Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah received a phone call on Tuesday from Jean-Noel Barrot, France’s minister of Europe and foreign affairs.
The Saudi Press Agency reported that the two ministers discussed regional developments and topics of common interest during their call.
Saudi Air Force commander attends finale of Tuwaiq 4 military drills
Prince Turki met air force officers from Oman, Jordan, Morocco, Qatar, the UK, the US, Greece, and the UAE
Updated 11 December 2024
Arab News
RIYADH: Prince Turki bin Bandar bin Abdulaziz, the lieutenant general and commander of the Royal Saudi Air Force, attended the finale of the joint Tuwaiq 4 military drills on Tuesday.
Prince Turki arrived at Prince Sultan Airbase, located near Al-Kharj, southeast of Riyadh, where in recent days, Saudi Royal Air Force personnel and fighter pilots from eight nations have participated in aerial exercises.
The prince met officers from Oman, Jordan, Morocco, Qatar, the UK, the US, Greece, and the UAE. The air base commander and Maj. Gen. Mohsen bin Saeed Al-Zahrani received Prince Turki upon his arrival, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
Tuwaiq 4 drills included maneuvers of tactical landing, flying at high and low altitudes, operating in challenging scenarios, carrying out search and rescue operations, and enhancing ground technical support.
UK-Gulf deals create 4,000 new jobs, raise UK living standards, Starmer says
‘Now is the time for further investment into our country,’ says Starmer
Updated 10 December 2024
MANAL AL-BARAKATI
RIYADH: Recent British deals with Saudi Arabia and the UAE have created 4,000 new jobs in Britain and are part of UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s plans to raise living standards, he said during a recent visit to Riyadh.
Starmer was received by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman at Al-Yamamah Palace in the Saudi capital this week, where discussions centered on enhancing bilateral cooperation in areas of mutual economic interest.
“The UAE and Saudi Arabia are key partners of ours. So I’ve been making the case that now is the time for further investment into our country, as far as Saudi Arabia is concerned,” Starmer told local press.
“For example, some of the deals we’ve done in the last few weeks have yielded 4,000 jobs, and so I’m here driving growth with the sole intention of making sure that when I say living standards will go up in the UK, people will feel better off that we’ve got the plan to follow through and deliver on that, with acts, with investment around the world.”
The visit included a high-profile business roundtable on Monday featuring Saudi Minister of Investment Khalid Al-Falih, Minister of Commerce Majid Al-Kassabi, Saudi Ambassador to the UK Prince Khalid bin Sultan, and Starmer.
Trade and investment: Key drivers
Trade between the UK and Saudi Arabia has seen robust growth in recent years, with bilateral trade valued at £14 billion annually. The UK is a key exporter to the Kingdom, supplying machinery, vehicles and pharmaceuticals, while Saudi Arabia exports crude oil, petrochemical products and significant investments in non-oil sectors.
FASTFACTS
• The Kingdom has been actively fostering global partnerships, as reflected in its agreements with the UK.
• Sectors such as green energy, digital transformation and healthcare innovation are seen as crucial for the next phase of bilateral economic engagement.
Recent discussions placed a particular emphasis on diversifying this trade relationship. Sectors such as green energy, digital transformation and health care innovation are seen as crucial for the next phase of bilateral economic engagement.
Saudi Arabia’s investments in its ICT sector, projected to reach $37.5 billion by 2024, present significant opportunities for British firms.
“The Kingdom’s investment in ICT is a clear signal of its ambitions. For UK technology firms, this is a market of immense opportunity,” said Sarah Walker, CEO of ZainTECH UK, in a previous interview with Arab News.
Renewable energy at the forefront
A cornerstone of the Saudi-UK partnership lies in renewable energy. Saudi Arabia has emerged as a global leader in clean energy, particularly in green hydrogen, where it aims to become a dominant producer.
James Penlington, CEO of London-based Renewable Edge, told Arab News previously: “Saudi Arabia’s investments in green hydrogen are unmatched globally. As a UK company, we are keen to contribute our expertise to support the Kingdom’s sustainability goals.”
The Kingdom’s focus on renewable energy is in line with its Vision 2030 target of generating 50 percent of its electricity from renewable sources by the end of the decade. This ambitious goal has attracted significant interest from UK firms specializing in solar, wind and hydrogen technologies.
Expanding educational and training partnerships
The growing Saudi-UK trade relationship is also fostering collaborations in education and training.
British universities and institutions are increasingly playing a role in developing Saudi Arabia’s workforce, particularly in high-tech fields such as artificial intelligence, robotics and health care.
These partnerships are critical to Vision 2030’s goal of building a skilled and diversified workforce.
“Educational collaboration is an area where UK institutions can bring real value,” Lucy Harper, managing director of Tech Frontier UK, told Arab News on Tuesday.
“With Saudi Arabia focusing on human capital development, we are seeing opportunities to engage in programs that drive innovation and prepare the workforce for future challenges.”
Building on Vision 2030 success
Since the launch of Vision 2030 in 2016, Saudi Arabia has achieved significant progress in economic diversification.
According to official data, 87 percent of its 1,064 initiatives are either completed or on track, demonstrating the Kingdom’s dedication to transforming its economy and creating new opportunities for international investors.
This progress has positioned Saudi Arabia as a key destination for foreign investment.
The Kingdom has been actively fostering global partnerships, as reflected in its agreements with the UK. For example, trade between Saudi Arabia and the UK reached £17.2 billion in 2022, marking a 68 percent increase compared to the previous year.
With Saudi Arabia advancing its Vision 2030 reforms and the UK pursuing new trade partnerships post-Brexit, the bilateral relationship has continued to strengthen.
The focus on renewable energy and technology aligns with Saudi sustainability goals, while UK businesses have benefitted from opportunities in the Saudi Arabia’s $37.5 billion ICT market.
These agreements signal a clear commitment to innovation and sustainable economic growth.
Saudi crown prince receives phone call from Canadian PM
During the call, Prince Mohammed and Trudeau discussed developments in Gaza and the occupied Palestinian territories and developments in Syria
Updated 10 December 2024
Arab News
RIYADH: Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman received a phone call from Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Tuesday, Saudi Press Agency reported.
During the call, Prince Mohammed and Trudeau reviewed aspects of relations between their countries and ways to enhance them in a number of areas.
They also discussed developments in Gaza and the occupied Palestinian territories, developments in Syria, and topics of common interest.
The need to support efforts aimed at reducing escalation and achieving security, peace, and stability in the region was also discussed.