Owning the Skies: Why Saudi Arabia Must Master Drone Manufacturing End-to-End

Introduction

Saudi Arabia is flying into the future — but to truly dominate the skies, it must first master the ground beneath them.

Drones represent one of the most promising technologies for defense, logistics, agriculture, and smart cities under Vision 2030. While major strides have been made in regulating drone operations and attracting investment, Saudi Arabia’s long-term success depends on something deeper: building a full, sovereign material-to-drone supply chain. From advanced composites and lightweight metals to propulsion systems, flight control electronics, and AI-enabled navigation, every part of a drone must eventually be Made in Saudi. Without this, the Kingdom risks strategic dependency at the very moment it seeks technological leadership. Now is the time to launch a national initiative that transforms Saudi Arabia from a drone consumer into a drone manufacturing powerhouse.

Saudi Arabia's journey into the drone sector reflects its broader ambitions for technological leadership and industrial diversification under Vision 2030. Regulatory frameworks have been established to enable drone operations across sectors such as security, agriculture, logistics, and infrastructure monitoring. Major entities like GAMI and SAMI have begun investing in drone-related technologies, and new R&D hubs in NEOM and other innovation districts signal a promising future. However, while operational capabilities are expanding, the industrial foundation — the full supply chain from raw materials to critical components — remains underdeveloped. Without mastering the underlying technologies and materials that power the drone ecosystem, the Kingdom risks building reliance where it seeks sovereignty.

The Current Landscape

Saudi Arabia has made important progress in its drone journey. The General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) now regulates drone operations, issuing permits for commercial and government use. Investment bodies such as the Saudi Arabian Military Industries (SAMI) and the General Authority for Military Industries (GAMI) have prioritized UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle) technologies within their broader defense localization programs. Furthermore, innovation hubs like NEOM and King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) are hosting R&D activities related to autonomous systems and smart mobility.

However, manufacturing capacity remains limited. Most activities today involve importing major subsystems — such as motors, control units, and sensors — and integrating them locally. True industrial depth — the ability to design, manufacture, and scale drone production independently — is still in the early stages.

Why Full Material-to-Drone Manufacturing Matters

Industrial sovereignty will define the competitive edge of nations in the 21st century. For Saudi Arabia, mastering the full material-to-drone value chain offers multiple strategic benefits:

• National Security: Control over critical technologies ensures operational independence and mitigates exposure to foreign restrictions or geopolitical risks.

• Economic Diversification: Drone manufacturing would create high-value jobs, boost local SMEs, and generate new export opportunities aligned with Vision 2030’s industrial pillars.

• Innovation Ecosystem Development: Owning the full stack — from materials to finished products — encourages deeper R&D, patents, and technological leadership rather than dependency on imported solutions.

• Strengthening Local Content: Deepening Saudi production capabilities supports the broader push toward maximizing local content across defense, aerospace, logistics, and smart city sectors.

Partial capabilities without material mastery leave strategic sectors vulnerable. Full-cycle ownership is the only path to sustainable leadership.

Identifying the Current Gaps

Despite progress, several critical gaps remain:

• Materials and Components: Saudi Arabia lacks domestic production of aerospace-grade composites, precision motors, navigation sensors, and advanced battery systems.

• Supply Chain Fragmentation: Drone ecosystem players are scattered, with few vertically integrated manufacturing chains.

• Limited Testing and Certification Infrastructure: No dedicated drone testing centers exist yet for streamlined product validation and airworthiness certification.

• Absence of Targeted Local Content Policies for Drones: Unlike sectors like military vehicles or telecom, there are no formal programs guaranteeing procurement for Saudi-made drones.

• SME Industrial Participation: Most SME involvement is concentrated in drone services (mapping, surveillance) rather than manufacturing or deep technical innovation.

Owning the skies demands first securing every link in the industrial chain.

Global Lessons: Focus on Turkey and India

Saudi Arabia can draw inspiration from emerging drone powers:

• Turkey (Baykar Technologies): Through sustained government support, prioritized defense procurement, and heavy investment in local R&D, Turkey developed its own world-class drones, fully manufactured domestically.

• India: By launching targeted production-linked incentive (PLI) schemes and easing regulatory frameworks, India catalyzed rapid growth in its local drone manufacturing ecosystem, encouraging both startups and defense giants to invest heavily.

These examples demonstrate that focused national strategies can close industrial gaps within a few years.

Strategic Recommendations for Saudi Arabia

To build a full material-to-drone supply chain, Saudi Arabia should:

1. Launch a National Drone Manufacturing Strategy: Establish drones as a standalone Vision 2030 vertical, with dedicated KPIs and funding.

2. Build Material-to-Drone Industrial Clusters: Anchor drone component industries around major innovation hubs like NEOM, KAUST, and Jubail, with shared testing facilities and logistics.

3. Guarantee Local Content Procurement for Drones: Create a procurement program through GAMI and other public agencies to assure purchase orders for Saudi-made drones and components.

4. Enable SME Specialization: Offer targeted grants and technical support for SMEs specializing in motors, electronics, flight control systems, composites, and battery technologies.

5. Establish a National Drone Testing and Certification Center: A central facility to accelerate R&D, ensure safety, and support product commercialization.

By strategically enabling materials, components, and systems production at home, Saudi Arabia can transform its drone sector from an integration hub into a manufacturing powerhouse.

Conclusion: Leading the Skies by Owning the Ground

Owning the skies begins by mastering the ground — materials, systems, and supply chains that make flight possible. Saudi Arabia has the ambition, the investment capacity, and the vision. Now, it must move swiftly to build full-cycle drone manufacturing capabilities that secure its technological independence and economic strength.

The window for regional leadership in drone industries is narrow.

Proactive investments today will determine Saudi Arabia’s ability to lead tomorrow’s skies.

It is no longer enough to operate drones; the Kingdom must engineer them, craft them, and proudly fly them under a flag of true industrial sovereignty.