RIYADH: Every riyal spent on defense development in Saudi Arabia contributes approximately SR6 ($1.60) to the gross domestic product, according to Abdullah Aba Al-Khail, director of corporate communications at the General Authority for Defense Development, speaking to Al-Eqtisadiah.
Al-Khail said the authority currently works with about 1,000 researchers in the defense field, directly sponsoring around 90 researchers through financial support and by providing industrial mentors to convert their research from a theoretical framework into a practical application.
The authority’s larger target in the coming phase is to direct 30 percent of research at local universities to serve the defense sector.
Speaking on the sidelines of the World Defense Show 2026, held in Mulham north of Riyadh, he added: “The authority has signed a number of memoranda of understanding and agreements, with plans to sign 10 international and local memoranda of understanding and agreements.”
As part of these agreements, the minister of defense witnessed the signing of the first MoU with the Korean Agency for Defense Development to enhance cooperation in defense development.
Agreements were also signed with the General Authority for Military Industries, the Saudi National Institute of Health, and King Abdul Aziz University, with further partnerships to follow.
Al-Khail said the local defense manufacturing sector will experience rapid growth with the localization of defense technologies. The authority is responsible for this area through developing research centers and supporting innovators, inventors and researchers.
GADD also plays a pivotal role in localizing technologies that lead to manufacturing, ultimately aiming to achieve leadership in the defense field.
He added that local development means local manufacturing, which ensures efficient spending and high-quality products.
The authority was established in 2021 and enjoys legal personality as well as financial and administrative independence. It reports to the Saudi prime minister.
The authority aims to regulate the research, development and innovation sector in fields related to defense, military and national security technologies and systems.
