Saudi Arabian defense spending has historically been sustained by strong fiscal reserves, supported by proceeds from its oil exports, which has allowed the country to accumulate robust emergency fiscal reserves and sustain robust defense spending.
However, with historically relatively low oil prices (until the outbreak of America’s war with Iran) and a government-wide spending restraint policy, Saudi Arabia’s defense expenditure has declined slightly since 2024. The recent war and continued war in Ukraine will boost oil exports and thus government revenues. Moreover, the outbreak of hostilities between Israel-Palestine, after the October 2023, Hamas attack on Israel has led to a significant deterioration in security situation, requiring further increases in defense expenditure. As a result, Saudi defense expenditure in 2026 is valued at $64.0 billion, which is expected to rise to $86.3 billion by 2031.
Key Highlights
- Modernization of equipment and contribution to high oil costs are key factors driving defense expenditure
- Major ongoing procurements include Eurofighter, LAV 6.0 APCs
Scope
This report offers a detailed analysis of Saudi Arabia defense market, with market size forecasts covering the next five years. It also offers insights into the strategy, security environment and defense market dynamics of the country. Various sections covered in the report are as follows:- Defense Budget Assessment: This chapter covers the defense budgeting process, market size forecasts, drivers of expenditure, and allocation analysis. It also examines key market trends and insights.
- Drivers, Trends and Political Environment: Detailed analysis of defense strategies, political, macroeconomic and technological factors, as well as alliances influencing the security environment.
- Market Entry Strategy and Regulations: This section elaborates on defense procurement bodies, trade associations and clusters, funding opportunities, contracting, essential aspects of procurement policy and market regulations, in addition to market entry challenges and routes.
- Market attractiveness: It provides an overview of deals and the investment landscape, evaluates the attractiveness of various defense sectors, indicating cumulative market value, and highlights the top sectors and defense segments by value in the country.
- Import and Export Dynamics: Provides an understanding of the defense platform imports and exports of the country from 2016 to 2025. Both imports and exports of the country are provided in terms of value ($M) and volume (units), categorized by country and sector.
- Defense Platform Acquisitions: Offers an overview of defense platform acquisitions by value. It lists current defense procurement schedules for the major ongoing and planned military platforms that have been formulated in the country and elaborates on the reasons leading to the procurement of the same.
- Fleet Size: Outlines the current fleet sizes of the Army, Air Force, and Navy, detailing the year of acquisition, units in service, and prime contractor for the equipment. It also provides the average age of the fleet for different services.
- Competitive Landscape: Profiles the main defense companies operating in the country.
Reasons to Buy
- Determine prospective investment areas based on a detailed trend analysis of the Saudi Arabia defense market over the next five years
- Gain in-depth understanding about the underlying factors driving demand for different defense and internal security segments in the Saudi Arabia market and identify the opportunities offered
- Strengthen your understanding of the market in terms of demand drivers, market trends, and the latest technological developments, among others
- Identify the major threats that are driving the Saudi Arabia defense market providing a clear picture about future opportunities that can be tapped, resulting in revenue expansion
- Channel resources by focusing on the ongoing programs that are being undertaken by the Saudi Arabia government
- Make correct business decisions based on in-depth analysis of the competitive landscape with links to detailed profiles of the top defense equipment providers in the country
Companies Mentioned (Partial List)
A selection of companies mentioned in this report includes, but is not limited to:
- Saudi Advanced Industries Co
- Advanced Electronics Co
- Al Tadrea Manufacturing Co
- Alpha Star Aviation Services
- Alsalam Aerospace Industries
- AVC Defense
- BAE Systems Saudi Arabia
- Boeing Middle East Ltd
- INTRA Defense Technologies Ltd
- Military Industries Corp
- Northrop Grumman Saudi Arabia
- Peninsular Aviation Services Co Ltd
- Rolls-Royce Saudi Arabia Ltd Co.
- Royal Saudi Naval Forces (RSNF)
- Saudi Air Navigation Services
- Saudi Arabian Military Industries
- Saudi Rotorcraft Support Company
- Scopa Industries Corp LLC
- The Helicopter & Jet Co

