Saudi Defense Ministry signs 17 deals to bolster defenses 

Deals were signed to boost the Saudi armed forces’ military readiness, strengthen their capabilities, enhance combat efficiency, as well localize manufacturing in line with Vision 2030. AN photo by Huda Bashatah
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Updated 09 February 2024
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Saudi Defense Ministry signs 17 deals to bolster defenses 

RIYADH: A package of deals was signed by Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Defense with local and global companies at the World Defense Show in Riyadh.

Some 17 contracts and two memorandums of understanding were signed to boost the Saudi armed forces’ military readiness, strengthen their capabilities, enhance combat efficiency, as well as localize manufacturing in line with Vision 2030, according to the Saudi Press Agency.

The signing of two contracts for the Air Force between the Ministry of Defense and PrivatAir Saudi Arabia took place in the presence of Khalid Al-Bayari, assistant minister of defense for executive affairs, and Ibrahim Al-Omar, director general of Saudi Arabian Airlines Corp.

Six industrial participation contracts with national and international companies were also secured by the General Authority for Military Industries, represented by Deputy Gov. Mohammed Al-Athel. 

Among the key contracts secured included one with the South Korean company LIG Nex1 to enhance the air force’s capabilities through the localization of advanced air defense systems manufacturing and development.

Another was reached with Raytheon Saudi Arabia, plus further two were struck with the Middle East Propulsion Co.

A contract was sealed with Saudi Arabian Military Industries Aerospace and Maintenance Services for the air force and another with SAMI LAND Systems for the ground troops.

To reinforce the focus on securing future requirements related to air defense systems, the ministry and GAMI signed two MoUs, one each with Lockheed Martin and Raytheon.

Further contracts were signed with SAAB Saudi Arabia for the air force, and with Haji Husein Ali Reza & Co. for the ground forces.

As for the navy’s interests, this was demonstrated through a contract with Saudi Arabian Thales International.

Two significant deals were signed with SAMI, one of which for the air force and the other to reinforce the G5 Sahel Joint Force in combating terrorism.

The Ministry of Defense also signed two contracts with the Big Blue Pearl Co. to boost troops, while another deal for the benefit of ground services was signed with the Modern Technology Co.

A contract with the Saudi Information Technology Co. for the General Administration of Information Technology at the ministry’s Agency for Excellence Services was also signed to underscore the ministry’s commitment to modernizing its infrastructure and services.


PIF-backed EV maker Lucid hits 16k 2025 deliveries, sets sights on robotaxi deployment

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PIF-backed EV maker Lucid hits 16k 2025 deliveries, sets sights on robotaxi deployment

RIYADH: Electric vehicle manufacturer Lucid Group, majority-owned by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, announced a surge in deliveries in 2025 with volumes reaching 15,841 units, a 55 percent increase year-on-year.

According to a statement, the EV maker also provided an optimistic production outlook for 2026, signaling confidence in its operational turnaround and strategic shift toward autonomy.

In September 2023, the group opened its first-ever international car manufacturing facility in the Kingdom. The hub serves as the company’s second Advanced Manufacturing Plant and its first outside of the US.

According to the earnings report, the company delivered 5,345 vehicles in the fourth quarter of 2025, up 72 percent from the same period in the previous year, marking its eighth consecutive quarter of record deliveries.

Interim CEO Marc Winterhoff said that 2025 “was all about execution and strategy adjustment to set Lucid up for long-term success. Against a challenging macro backdrop, we nearly doubled production, gained market share, reduced unit costs, and strengthened our financial position.”

This commercial momentum translated directly into financial gains. Lucid’s fourth-quarter revenue soared 123 percent to $522.7 million, while full-year 2025 earnings climbed 68 percent to $1.35 billion. The company ended the quarter with a robust liquidity position of approximately $4.6 billion.

A key driver of the improved performance was the ramp-up of production, including the launch of the Lucid Gravity SUV. Despite facing supply chain and tariff headwinds, Lucid nearly doubled its total production for the year.

The company clarified its final production figures for 2025, reporting a total of 17,840 vehicles. This aligns with its previous guidance of approximately 18,000 units.

Lucid explained that a preliminary estimate of 18,378 units, announced in early January, was revised after 538 vehicles were found not to have completed the final internal validation procedures required to be classified as “produced.”

These vehicles are expected to be finalized in 2026, and the company stressed the revision does not impact previously reported financial results.

The manufacturer expects to produce between 25,000 and 27,000 vehicles in 2026, representing growth of up to 51 percent compared with 2025.

Chief Financial Officer Taoufiq Boussaid said: “Q4 marked a clear step-change in production and unit economics. The progress we made is structural, creating a more repeatable and stable operating cadence heading into 2026.”

Beyond the production numbers, Lucid outlined a pivot toward software and autonomy. Winterhoff highlighted the company’s ambition to become an “early mover in the emerging robotaxi market” by leveraging its industry-leading EV technology and strategic partnerships.

To fund these future growth platforms while maintaining financial discipline, the company is making targeted adjustments to its workforce.

“As we prepare for the next stage of our product and volume expansion, we are making targeted adjustments to our US-based, non-manufacturing workforce to reallocate resources to support the next stage of our growth and margin progression,” Boussaid added.

He reiterated the company’s commitment to “financial rigor, operational efficiency, and thoughtful capital allocation.”

In January 2025, the EV maker became the first global automotive company to join the Kingdom’s “Made in Saudi” program, granting it the right to use the “Saudi Made” label on its products, symbolizing the nation’s focus on quality and innovation.

Lucid’s facility, located in King Abdullah Economic City, can currently assemble 5,000 vehicles annually during its first phase. Once fully operational, the complete manufacturing plant, including the assembly line, is expected to produce up to 155,000 electric cars per year. 

This comes as the Kingdom is promoting the adoption of electric vehicles as part of its Vision 2030 strategy, which aims to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2060.
A critical target of the initiative is for 30 percent of all vehicles in Riyadh to be electric by 2030, contributing to a broader goal of reducing emissions in the capital by 50 percent.