Saudi Arabia’s industrial sector surges past 15,000 factories driven by Vision 2030

 

Saudi Arabia enters into an era of industrialization driven by Vision 2030 

The number of industrial establishments in Saudi Arabia has more than doubled since the inception of Vision 2030, surging from 7,000 to over 15,000 facilities across various economic sectors.

The milestone was announced by Abdullah Saleh Kamel, Chairman of the Federation of Saudi Chambers, during Monday's inaugural session of the second annual Saudi Industry Forum 2026, held at the Jeddah Superdome.

Organized by the Federation of Saudi Chambers of Commerce—represented by the National Committee of Industry—in collaboration with the Jeddah Chamber of Commerce, the three-day forum highlighted the rapid transformation and global integration of the Kingdom's manufacturing landscape.

 

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Unprecedented Growth and New Frontiers

In his keynote address, Kamel emphasized that this rapid industrial expansion includes entirely new sectors that were not licensed prior to the launch of Vision 2030. Most notably, the military industries sector has seen exponential growth, now boasting over 347 licensed companies.

Driven by both local and foreign investments, the industrial sector's contribution to Saudi Arabia's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) has climbed to 16 percent.

The Kingdom has now positioned itself as a regional and global leader in several key industries, including:

·        Petrochemicals

·        Machinery and heavy equipment

·        Military and defense manufacturing

·        Food and pharmaceuticals

·        Textiles and building materials

Rising Global Competitiveness

Kamel underscored that Saudi products have evolved into formidable competitors on the global stage.

"We have witnessed a growing desire from importers in friendly nations to explore and acquire Saudi products," Kamel noted, pointing to recent data on the growth of non-oil exports. "This leadership has been realized through the strong support of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman, alongside the Kingdom's rich economic resources and competitive advantages."

He credited this success to a combination of strategic enablers, including:

·        Abundant raw materials and advanced logistics infrastructure.

·        Progressive legislation that modernized the industrial ecosystem.

·        Government initiatives designed to empower the private sector's competitive capabilities.

·        Geographic proximity to major global markets.

The Path Forward: AI and the Fourth Industrial Revolution

Looking ahead, Kamel outlined the Federation's ongoing methodology, which prioritizes forging strategic partnerships with government entities to meet both domestic and international objectives.

 

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He issued a call to action for the private sector to take a leading role in localizing high-quality industries. To cement Saudi Arabia's status as a leading global industrial power, Kamel stressed the necessity of fostering innovation and integrating advanced technologies.

"The future requires leveraging artificial intelligence, Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) technologies, and other transformative enablers," he stated, reaffirming the Federation's commitment to supporting industrial investors in realizing the Kingdom's ambitious economic goals.

Source: Saudi Gazette