As Gulf countries push to diversify their economies, Saudi Arabia is intensifying its focus on industrial development. Building on Vision 2030, the Kingdom is emphasizing high-tech manufacturing, sustainability, and economic resilience.

On May 28, Saudi Arabia introduced the Advanced Manufacturing and Production Center, an initiative aimed at accelerating industrial transformation through advanced technologies and sustainable practices.

The center is set to drive efficiency, flexibility, and innovation in Saudi Arabia’s manufacturing sector. By leveraging Fourth Industrial Revolution technologies—such as artificial intelligence, automation, and smart systems—it aims to localize production and boost the Kingdom’s global competitiveness.

Aligned with Vision 2030, the initiative emphasizes collaboration with the private sector to accelerate the adoption of emerging technologies across strategic and high-impact industries.

The center also supports the National Industrial Strategy, launched in October 2022. This strategy aims to expand Saudi Arabia’s factory base to around 36,000 facilities by 2035. It focuses on attracting both foreign and domestic investment, boosting local manufacturing capacity, and increasing non-oil exports.

“Adopting the latest industrial technologies raises the efficiency of our industrial sector and enhances its competitiveness regionally and globally,” said Khalil bin Ibrahim bin Salamah, Deputy Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources for Industrial Affairs, in a post shared by the ministry on X.

In an accompanying video, the ministry highlighted  the strategic importance of the initiative: “The Advanced Manufacturing and Production Center opens doors to industrial investment opportunities and stimulates the sector to adopt new manufacturing technologies within industrial facilities.”

The center will collaborate closely with national initiatives such as the Future Factories Program, which seeks to modernize 4,000 factories using advanced technologies to enhance efficiency and strengthen supply chains in key sectors like food and petrochemicals.