Saudi Arabia is embracing the Fourth Industrial Revolution by integrating advanced technologies like automation, artificial intelligence, robotics, and data-driven systems into its industrial sector. This shift is designed to boost production efficiency and lower operational costs, according to the Saudi Press Agency.
The Kingdom’s strategy goes beyond adaptation, aiming for regional and global leadership in smart manufacturing. These efforts align with Vision 2030 and the National Industrial Strategy, which seek to establish Saudi Arabia as a top industrial power and a key player in global supply chains.
The Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources is spearheading this transformation by developing a comprehensive national system for advanced manufacturing. Central to this effort is the Advanced Manufacturing and Production Center, which unifies programs and initiatives that support the adoption of modern industrial technologies. The center collaborates with government agencies in technology, research, and innovation, as well as international industrial technology leaders.
Key initiatives under the center include:
- Future Factories Program Initiative
- Industrial Beacons Program
- Accelerated Manufacturing Program
- Capability Centers Network
- Operational Excellence Program
These programs are designed to help local manufacturers access innovative solutions, improve efficiency, and reduce costs.
The center also focuses on localizing sustainable technologies, attracting industrial investment, and developing workforce skills through its Capability Centers Network. It provides hands-on learning and advisory services to help factories modernize their operations.
In 2022, the ministry introduced the Future Factories initiative, aiming to automate 4,000 Saudi factories and enhance their efficiency while reducing reliance on unskilled labor. This initiative offers incentives such as financing, consulting, and workforce development to support digital transformation and the adoption of advanced solutions, including AI, robotics, the Internet of Things, and big data analytics.
To further advance the sector, the ministry launched the Industrial Beacons program, intended to help leading Saudi factories implement Fourth Industrial Revolution technologies and gain international recognition through the World Economic Forum’s Global Lighthouse Network by 2030.
During the launch of the Advanced Manufacturing and Production Center, the Ministry announced that 10 national industrial companies have pledged to meet the standards set by the Industrial Beacons initiative. These measures signal Saudi Arabia’s ambition to lead, rather than merely follow, global trends in industrial innovation.
