Aircraft manufacturing becomes Saudi Arabia’s new industrial goal
Saudi Arabia says it is preparing to enter the aircraft manufacturing sector as part of its broader plan to expand and integrate key industries.
The announcement was made by Khalil bin Salmah, the country’s Deputy Minister of Industry for Industrial Affairs, during an industry forum in Dhahran on June 23.
He said aircraft manufacturing will be the next step following recent progress in the automotive industry, and that the National Industrial Strategy is built on linking sectors such as petrochemicals, car production, and now aviation.
The government has invested around $8.3 billion in industrial infrastructure, which officials say could generate returns up to eight times that amount.
In total, over 1,900 industrial projects are currently underway in the kingdom, with combined investments valued at $101 billion.
A new industrial city focused on aircraft maintenance has already been launched, covering more than one million square metres.
Several companies have also received their first-ever licences to operate in the aviation manufacturing sector, according to the Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources.
Officials say manufacturing will play a major role in achieving up to 40 percent of the goals set out in Saudi Arabia’s National Industrial Strategy.
The plan is part of the country’s wider efforts to diversify its economy away from oil and build a strong, self-sustaining industrial base.
This story is written and edited by the Global South World team, you can contact us here.
