Saudi’s military company eyes $10bn revenue in next five years

State-owned Saudi Arabian Military Industries (SAMI) aims to generate $10bn in revenue over the next five years, its chief executive said on Monday, as the wealth fund-backed group spearheads a drive to localise military spending.

SAMI, owned by the Public Investment Fund, wants exports to account for 30 per cent of its revenue by 2030, chief executive Andreas Schwer told Reuters at a defence event in Abu Dhabi.

The company, established in May 2017, seeks to localise 50 per cent of military spending by 2030 as part of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s plan to diversify the kingdom’s economy away from oil revenue.

“By 2030 SAMI will be more than just a regional player. We will be a truly global player, to be among the top 10 companies,” Schwer said. “We won’t serve only the domestic market. We will generate 30 per cent of revenues from export markets by 2030.”

He said Saudi Arabia has a $70bn annual defence budget plus a $30bn security-related budget from other ministries.

Schwer said SAMI had signed 19 joint venture deals with companies from Western Europe, the United States, Asia and South Africa since 2018 and planned to sign 25 to 30 more in the next five years.

Schwer said SAMI would not do business with Russia due to US sanctions. “SAMI as an entity will not do any business with any country or company which is falling under embargo or sanctions,” he said.

SAMI also planned to build a company in the kingdom as part of a joint venture with Abu Dhabi state investor Mubadala to build aircraft components for commercial and military uses. A foreign partner could join the venture.

“We are looking to acquire other existing assets as a technology provider,” Schwer said.