Saudi Arabia Prepares Infrastructure to Increase Use of Electric Vehicles

The Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Company supports economic diversification efforts in Saudi Arabia. (EVIQ)
The Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Company supports economic diversification efforts in Saudi Arabia. (EVIQ)
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Saudi Arabia Prepares Infrastructure to Increase Use of Electric Vehicles

The Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Company supports economic diversification efforts in Saudi Arabia. (EVIQ)
The Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Company supports economic diversification efforts in Saudi Arabia. (EVIQ)

Saudi Arabia is taking rapid steps to enhance the future of the electric car industry towards achieving its national strategy in Vision 2030, by reducing carbon emissions and generating 50 percent of its electrical energy from renewable sources.

The Kingdom recently launched the Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Company (EVIQ), the first Saudi brand of electric cars (Ceer), and opened Lucid, the first factory which specializes in the manufacturing of electric vehicles in the Saudi market.

In November 2022, Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, announced the launch of Ceer. The company will design, manufacture, and sell a range of electric cars including Aedans and Sports Utility Vehicles (SUV’s) for the Gulf region.

Ceer is expected to attract direct foreign investments worth SAR 562 million (about $150 million) to support the national economy, while its direct contribution to the gross domestic product will amount to SAR 30 billion ($8 billion). The company will also provide 30,000 jobs by 2034.

In September 2023, Lucid, the electric car manufacturing company, inaugurated its first and advanced international factory, “AMP-2”, in King Abdullah Economic City in Rabigh Governorate (western Saudi Arabia).

The factory will begin producing approximately 5,000 vehicles to gradually reach around 150,000. It is expected to play a fundamental role in accelerating the achievement of the strategic goal of diversifying the Kingdom’s economy.

In October, the Public Investment Fund (PIF) and the Saudi Electricity Company announced the launch of the Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Company (EVIQ).

CEO of EVIQ Mohammed Qazzaz told Asharq Al-Awsat that the company was working to build a wide national network of fast charging stations around the Kingdom, with the goal of reaching more than 5,000 chargers across more than 1,000 stations by 2030.

Qazzaz stated that the role of EVIQ was to empower the sector by starting the process of developing infrastructure and accelerating the pace of demand for electric cars.

He added that the company was established with the aim of supporting and accelerating the growth of the electric vehicle sector by working on developing the infrastructure and establishing a wide network of fast chargers throughout Saudi Arabia.

Automobile expert Majid Al-Sheikhi confirmed to Asharq Al-Awsat that the government was working to prepare the infrastructure to increase the number of electric vehicles on Saudi roads in line with the Kingdom’s goals to reduce carbon emissions.

He added that EVIQ’s goals focused on increasing sales of electric vehicles and contributing to developing and enabling the necessary infrastructure.



Saudi Non-Oil Exports Reach Highest Levels Since 2022

A view of the Jeddah Islamic Port. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
A view of the Jeddah Islamic Port. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Saudi Non-Oil Exports Reach Highest Levels Since 2022

A view of the Jeddah Islamic Port. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
A view of the Jeddah Islamic Port. (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Saudi Arabia’s non-oil exports have reached their highest levels since the second quarter of 2022, continuing to grow at a steady pace. By the end of the third quarter of this year, non-oil exports, including re-exports, totaled SAR 80 billion (USD 21 billion), reflecting a 16.8% increase compared to the same period in 2023.

This growth aligns with the goals of Vision 2030, which aims to diversify Saudi Arabia’s economy and reduce reliance on oil revenues. Credit rating agency Moody’s recently upgraded Saudi Arabia’s credit rating to AA3 from A1 with a stable outlook, citing the Kingdom’s ongoing economic diversification and the strength of its non-oil private sector. Moody’s projects the non-oil private sector’s GDP to grow by 4–5% annually in the coming years.

According to data from Saudi Arabia’s General Authority for Statistics, non-oil national exports (excluding re-exports) grew by 7.6% in the third quarter of 2024, reaching SAR 57 billion (USD 15.1 billion). Re-exports saw a remarkable surge of 48.4%, amounting to SAR 23 billion (USD 6.1 billion).

In contrast, total merchandise exports dropped by 7.7% to SAR 276 billion (USD 73.5 billion) due to a 14.9% decline in oil exports. As a result, the share of oil exports in total exports decreased from 77.3% in the third quarter of 2023 to 71.3% this year.

Chemical industry products accounted for 25.5% of non-oil exports, growing by 5.3% compared to the same period last year. Plastics, rubber, and their derivatives followed closely, representing 24.9% of non-oil exports, with an 8.9% increase from the third quarter of 2023.

China remained Saudi Arabia’s top export destination, accounting for 15.2% of total exports in the third quarter of 2024. Japan and South Korea followed, at 9.3% and 9.2%, respectively. Other major destinations included India, the UAE, the US, Poland, Egypt, Bahrain, and Taiwan. Together, these ten countries accounted for 66.4% of Saudi exports.

Experts emphasize that the growth in non-oil exports strengthens Saudi Arabia’s economy and reflects the success of its diversification strategy under Vision 2030.

Shura Council member Fadhel Al-Buainain highlighted the importance of considering the scale of Saudi non-oil exports during the third quarter of 2024. He emphasized two key aspects of Saudi non-oil exports.

First, the 16.8% growth achieved is a significant leap that boosts the Saudi economy’s ability to continue strengthening non-oil exports, which are a focal point of Vision 2030 and its economic diversification goals.

Second, he said the 48.4% increase in the value of re-exported goods represents substantial growth, reflecting the Kingdom’s potential to play a pivotal role in regional re-export activities. This, in turn, can stimulate exports and position Saudi Arabia as a global logistics hub.

He further noted that the increase in export value compared to the second quarter of this year, amounting to SAR 37.2 billion (USD 9.92 billion) or 15.6%, indicates sustained and accelerating export growth.

Al-Buainain believes that Saudi Arabia’s ports on the Red Sea and the Arabian Gulf are well-equipped to play a central role in re-exporting, supported by free economic zones, robust infrastructure, and a well-established transportation and logistics network.

He also stated that the improvement in global demand, particularly in the petrochemical sector, which accounted for the largest share of exports, contributed to this growth.

However, the global economic conditions may face certain challenges that will reflect negatively on global demand, he remarked, stressing the importance of diversifying exports.

Dr. Osama Al-Obaidi, an international commercial law consultant and professor, told Asharq Al-Awsat that the significant increase in non-oil exports in the third quarter of this year compared to the same period in 2023 is linked to the growth in petrochemical exports, particularly plastics, rubber, and their derivatives.

He explained that this rise reflects the effectiveness of Saudi Arabia’s economic diversification efforts and its reduced reliance on oil as a sole income source, in line with Vision 2030.

It also highlights the success of the substantial investments made by the government to develop ports and logistics services, such as King Abdulaziz Port in Dammam and Jeddah Islamic Port.

Moreover, improvements in domestic, regional, and international airports, along with initiatives to promote local industries—particularly chemicals, food products, pharmaceuticals, and other high-demand goods in foreign markets—have also played a pivotal role.