The Arab International Aluminium Conference (ARABAL) is the Middle East’s premier trade event for the aluminium industry, combining a strategic conference with an international exhibition. As the only conference attended by every primary smelter in the region, ARABAL is a must-attend event for industry professionals. Now in its 25th edition, ARABAL will be hosted by Ma’aden in Riyadh, Saudi…
SaudiArabia’s Vision 2030 blueprint for socio-economic transformation is capturing international attention. Beyond high-profile projects and events, strategic cohesion and societal support are facilitating tangible developments on the ground.This publication examines the key sectors driving the Kingdom’s growth under the National Industrial Development and Logistics Programme (NIDLP),…
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is experiencing a period of sustained economic growth, outperforming other G20 nations in 2022. This expansion is attributed to higher global energy prices, resulting in a fiscal surplus and supporting diversification efforts and the non-oil sector.
As global industry seeks to reduce or eliminate its carbon footprint, a number of MENA countries are investing in green steel production to capture market share and help meet emissions targets. Industry generates 20% of global greenhouse gas emissions annually, with the steel manufacturing segment accounting for the largest share, at 7%, due in part to a reliance on coal to heat smelting furnaces.…
Launched in October 2022, the National Industry Strategy (NIS) aims to promote non-oil exports and attract investment, using advanced technologies along with value-added manufacturing to drive sustainable growth and development. These are expected to supplement the traditional drivers of the Saudi industrial landscape, such as oil, basic manufacturing and petrochemicals. The NIS targets 12 industrial…
Desalination is considered an expensive and energy-intensive process. However, mega-projects are seeking to tap renewable resources to limit the cost and environmental concerns associated with this crucial process. In June 2022 ENOWA, the energy, water and hydrogen subsidiary of Saudi Arabia’s NEOM mega-project, signed a memorandum of understanding with French energy company Veolia and Japanese trading…
With more than 1000 projects – nearly 800 of which are set to be commissioned by 2030 – requiring $320bn in investment having been announced globally, the hydrogen market’s growth is aligned with ongoing decarbonisation endeavours. Saudi Arabia, where oil revenue contributed an average of 75% of total budget revenue between 2010 and 2022, is at the forefront of this process. Guided by Vision…
With high energy prices and supply chain disruptions creating shortages of key renewable energy components and materials, emerging markets are reassessing how to build out utility-scale solar power to accelerate their energy transitions. After more than a decade of decline, the cost of solar photovoltaic (PV) panels has risen around the world, due primarily to the increasing cost of solar-grade polysilicon…
Saudi Arabia’s industrial and mining sectors have long been singled out by the authorities as targets for expansion to support economic diversification. The Kingdom aims to attract international manufacturers, and develop the capacity of industrial small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to strengthen domestic value chains. At the same time, the country is making efforts to upgrade its transport…
Saudi Arabia’s energy strategy revolves around extracting maximum economic benefit from its remaining hydrocarbons reserves while expanding renewable power capacity at home by investing in research, development and innovation activities to develop clean energy solutions, as well as to reduce the environmental impact of fossil fuels. The Kingdom’s strategy is guided by forecasts of an eventual…