Key Saudi Arabian defense stakeholders are seeking to raise the profile of the Kingdom's domestic defense industry at the Farnborough Airshow.

Under the national “Invest Saudi” banner, the General Authority for Military Industries (GAMI), Saudi Arabia’s defense industry regulator is leading the KSA Pavilion’s participation alongside key government entities and private sector representatives, including the Ministry of Investment, Saudi Arabian Military Industries (SAMI), and the World Defense Show (WDS).

GAMI governor Ahmad Al-Ohali underlined domestic capabilities, in particular GAMI’s efforts to nurture national talent. "Human capital continues to be a major focal enabler of the Kingdom’s ambitious localization journey, as evidenced by the launch of the Military Industries Human Capital strategy in February and the subsequent announcement of the establishment of the National Academy of Military Industries shortly thereafter," said Al-Ohali.

The defense sector and matters of national security stand at the forefront of the Kingdom’s priorities, and localizing this and other key sectors means expanding the potential of non-oil revenue streams in line with Vision 2030, Saudi Arabia's plan to diversity away from hydrocarbons.

GAMI aims to localize more than 50 percent of national expenditure on defense equipment and services by 2030. As one of the world’s most promising defense industries, GAMI believes it offers billions of dollars worth of investment opportunities across the supply chain.

The inaugural WDS took place in early March, necessitating a lifting of several Covid restrictions in the Kingdom, and was, according to participants, three times bigger than last year’s Dubai Airshow.