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Aramco, KAUST to Form Consortium for Nonmetallics and Composites in Energy Applications

Logo of Saudi Aramco is seen at the 20th Middle East Oil & Gas Show and Conference (MOES 2017) in Manama, Bahrain, March 7, 2017. (Reuters)
Logo of Saudi Aramco is seen at the 20th Middle East Oil & Gas Show and Conference (MOES 2017) in Manama, Bahrain, March 7, 2017. (Reuters)
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Aramco, KAUST to Form Consortium for Nonmetallics and Composites in Energy Applications

Logo of Saudi Aramco is seen at the 20th Middle East Oil & Gas Show and Conference (MOES 2017) in Manama, Bahrain, March 7, 2017. (Reuters)
Logo of Saudi Aramco is seen at the 20th Middle East Oil & Gas Show and Conference (MOES 2017) in Manama, Bahrain, March 7, 2017. (Reuters)

The King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) has signed an agreement with Aramco to establish a technology consortium focusing on performance and integrity management of nonmetallics and composites in energy applications (ENERCOMP), said KAUST in a statement.

Aramco has joined ENERCOMP as a founding member and first research sponsor to further advance nonmetallic materials in the energy sector.

"The five-year technology consortium represents a significant university-based R&D investment in nonmetallics and composites in the Kingdom, setting an example of bringing a new technology value chain together to strengthen the Kingdom’s position in the energy and materials transitions," said the statement.

The joint investment aims to support the Kingdom’s vision toward sustainability and diversification through the development of less energy-intensive and lower carbon-footprint materials.

Aramco will leverage its experience from relevant initiatives such as the Rice University Carbon Hub in the US and the Nonmetallic Innovation Center (NIC) in the UK to support ENERCOMP in transforming fundamental science into deployable integrity management solutions. This will increase industry confidence in the long-term role that nonmetallics and composites can play as an integral part of the materials transition.

Similar to the NIC model, the initiative will encourage other energy sector players to join the consortium and utilize KAUST’s cutting-edge research capabilities in engineering solutions, AI and material science.

Aramco Senior Vice President of Technology Oversight and Coordination Dr. Ali Al-Meshari said: "Through this collaboration, we aim to create an innovation hub for advanced composites in the Kingdom. By focusing on the development and integration of smart and cost-effective sensors in composite materials and applying emerging AI solutions, we can deploy novel integrity management technologies to the energy industry at large."

Director of ENERCOMP and KAUST Professor of Mechanical Engineering Prof. Gilles Lubineau highlighted the significance of this step, saying that ENERCOMP represents a new era of collaboration between KAUST and energy sector leaders.

The ambitious industry-focused partnership aims to establish a specialized team at KAUST to support engineering applications of nonmetallics and composites throughout the energy value chain. By supporting the Kingdom's nonmetallic and composite agenda, ENERCOMP will deliver innovative solutions crucial for a sustainable future, he added.

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Rise in Non-Oil Exports Strengthens Saudi Arabia’s Economic Diversification Efforts

King Abdulaziz Port in Dammam, east of Saudi Arabia (SPA) 
King Abdulaziz Port in Dammam, east of Saudi Arabia (SPA) 
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Rise in Non-Oil Exports Strengthens Saudi Arabia’s Economic Diversification Efforts

King Abdulaziz Port in Dammam, east of Saudi Arabia (SPA) 
King Abdulaziz Port in Dammam, east of Saudi Arabia (SPA) 

Saudi Arabia’s non-oil exports continued their upward trajectory, reflecting the Kingdom’s ongoing efforts to diversify its economy. According to data from the General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT), non-oil exports, including re-exports, grew by 10.7% in January, while excluding re-exports, they increased by 13.1%.

The International Trade Statistics Bulletin for January, published by GASTAT, reported a 2.4% growth in Saudi Arabia’s total merchandise exports compared to the same period last year. Meanwhile, oil exports saw a slight decline of 0.4% in January. The share of oil exports in total exports also dropped from 74.8% in January 2024 to 72.7% in January 2025.

This increase in non-oil exports is a positive indicator of the success of Saudi Arabia’s economic policies in diversifying income sources beyond oil, according to Dr. Abdullah Al-Jassar, a member of the Saudi Association for Energy Economics. Speaking to Asharq Al-Awsat, Al-Jassar emphasized that this growth did not happen by chance but was the result of a comprehensive strategy to develop the manufacturing sector, which has become a key driver of the non-oil economy. Notably, chemical industry products accounted for 23.7% of total non-oil exports.

He also highlighted that major improvements in logistics infrastructure, supported by the National Industrial Development and Logistics Program (NIDLP), have enhanced export efficiency and strengthened the connection between Saudi-made products and global markets—solidifying the Kingdom’s position as a key trade hub.

China: A Key Trade Partner

According to the latest data, China remains Saudi Arabia’s top trading partner, accounting for 15.2% of the Kingdom’s total exports, while imports from China made up 26.4% of total imports. This underscores Saudi Arabia’s strong presence in Asian trade, Al-Jassar noted.

Imports and Trade Surplus

Despite an 8.3% increase in imports, the trade surplus declined by 11.9%. However, Al-Jassar explained that this decline should be viewed within the broader context of Saudi Arabia’s structural economic transformation. The rise in imports is largely driven by an increase in production inputs that support industrial expansion rather than consumer goods.

Economic policy expert Ahmed Al-Shihri told Asharq Al-Awsat that the 10.7% growth in non-oil exports reflects the success of investments in industrial sectors, particularly the chemical industry, which accounted for 23.7% of non-oil exports. This growth indicates an improvement in production capacity and international competitiveness.

“The increase in non-oil exports is driven by enhancements in industrial infrastructure, government support for the private sector, and rising global demand for Saudi non-oil products. This shift reduces the Kingdom’s dependence on oil as the primary revenue source, making the economy more resilient to fluctuations in oil prices. Furthermore, the rise in the ratio of non-oil exports to imports—from 35.7% to 36.5%—suggests a healthier trade structure that supports long-term economic sustainability,” Al-Shihri added.

Vision 2030

Saudi Vision 2030 continues to drive non-oil sector growth through various initiatives, including enhancing local content, boosting exports, attracting foreign investments, and expanding economic and logistics zones. Al-Jassar believes that the continuation of these strategies will establish Saudi Arabia as an emerging export powerhouse in the coming years, further strengthening its global economic standing.