Saudi Electronics Market Growth Attracts Global Tech Firms

 An LG employee showcases the company’s latest products (Asharq Al-Awsat)
An LG employee showcases the company’s latest products (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Saudi Electronics Market Growth Attracts Global Tech Firms

 An LG employee showcases the company’s latest products (Asharq Al-Awsat)
An LG employee showcases the company’s latest products (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Saudi Arabia’s economy is gaining strong momentum as major projects and diversification programs accelerate, making it one of the most attractive markets for global technology and industrial solutions companies in the region.

A report by Mordor Intelligence estimated the Kingdom’s home appliances market at around $4.03 billion in 2024, with projections to reach $4.81 billion by 2029, at a compound annual growth rate of 3.61 %.

The growth is driven by rapid urban expansion, rising demand for new housing, and consumers’ increasing preference for energy-efficient appliances.

Among the international companies strengthening their foothold in the local market is South Korea’s LG Electronics, a leading player in heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and advanced energy solutions.

Saudi Arabia hosts LG’s only Arab factory, one of 11 worldwide, dedicated to producing high-efficiency air conditioners, in partnership with Shaker Group, LG’s exclusive distributor and local manufacturer.

The LG–Shaker plant is regarded as one of the most successful examples of industrial cooperation between global and local companies.

It provides cooling systems tailored to regional conditions, including units designed to withstand sandstorms and high temperatures, in line with Saudi Arabia’s efficiency and sustainability standards.

Partnership with NEOM

During a recent media tour attended by Asharq Al-Awsat, LG revealed that its market share in air dryers has reached 27 %, the highest among competitors.

James Lee, President of LG Electronics Middle East and Africa, told Asharq Al-Awsat that the company continues to maintain a strong position in Saudi Arabia’s home appliances sector, particularly in refrigerators, washing machines, and air conditioners.

He said LG is working to strengthen its consumer segment presence and expand its smart, Internet of Things–based solutions, while also developing offerings for government projects and enterprise clients.

Reflecting its growing focus on high-tech sectors, LG recently signed a tripartite memorandum of understanding with Shaker Group and Data Volt to supply advanced cooling systems for an artificial intelligence data center under development in Oxagon, the industrial hub of the NEOM mega-project. The solutions will utilize the latest thermal management technologies.

Arabic Integration

LG continues to tailor its products to local lifestyles, developing appliances that meet the needs of Saudi families and their culinary traditions, while incorporating Arabic language support into user interfaces and smart applications.

Il Hwan Lee, Head of Home Appliances at LG Electronics Middle East and Africa, said: “After studying the daily routines, cooking habits, and communication styles of Saudi families, we designed products that fit seamlessly into their lives, as an expression of our respect for Saudi culture through innovation.”

He concluded by reaffirming LG’s commitment to expanding its presence in the Saudi market through innovative solutions that support the transition toward smart and sustainable homes, in line with Vision 2030, which places technology and sustainability at the heart of economic development.



UK Inflation Falls to 3.0% in January

Pedestrians cross Westminster Bridge in front of Parliament during the early morning hours in London, Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2026.(AP Photo/Kin Cheung)
Pedestrians cross Westminster Bridge in front of Parliament during the early morning hours in London, Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2026.(AP Photo/Kin Cheung)
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UK Inflation Falls to 3.0% in January

Pedestrians cross Westminster Bridge in front of Parliament during the early morning hours in London, Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2026.(AP Photo/Kin Cheung)
Pedestrians cross Westminster Bridge in front of Parliament during the early morning hours in London, Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2026.(AP Photo/Kin Cheung)

Britain's annual ‌rate of consumer price inflation fell to 3.0% in January from 3.4% in December, official figures showed on Wednesday.

A Reuters poll of economists had shown a median forecast of 3.0% in January and the Bank of England projected earlier this month that the headline measure of inflation would slow to ‌2.9%.

British inflation ‌has run higher than in ‌the ⁠United States and in ⁠the euro zone where it stood at 2.4% and 1.7% respectively in January.

But the BoE expects the pace of price rises to slow sharply to almost its 2% target in ⁠April as last year's rises ‌in utility costs and ‌other government-controlled tariffs fall out of ‌the annual comparison.

Investors expect the central bank ‌to cut its benchmark interest rate to 3.5% at its next meeting in March after a tight vote to keep borrowing costs ‌on hold in February although some policymakers remain worried about underlying ⁠inflation ⁠pressure.

Financial markets on Tuesday also priced a second quarter-point interest rate cut by the BoE by the end of in 2026.

ONS data last week painted a downbeat picture of Britain's economy at the end of 2025 with output barely growing. Figures released on Tuesday showed the labor market was still losing jobs although there were some signs of a stabilization.


Riyadh to Host Middle East’s Largest General Aviation Airshow in November 

The AERO Middle East x Sand & Fun 2026 will be held in Riyadh from November 24 to 28. (SPA)
The AERO Middle East x Sand & Fun 2026 will be held in Riyadh from November 24 to 28. (SPA)
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Riyadh to Host Middle East’s Largest General Aviation Airshow in November 

The AERO Middle East x Sand & Fun 2026 will be held in Riyadh from November 24 to 28. (SPA)
The AERO Middle East x Sand & Fun 2026 will be held in Riyadh from November 24 to 28. (SPA)

The Saudi Aviation Club announced that it will organize the AERO Middle East x Sand & Fun 2026 in Riyadh from November 24 to 28, reported the Saudi Press Agency on Tuesday.

The event is set to be the largest of its kind for general aviation in the Middle East, combining international business, investment, and innovation with live flying displays and interactive public experiences. It is being held in partnership with Messe Frankfurt Saudi Arabia.

Held at Thumamah Airport, the exhibition will bring together leading global companies operating in the general aviation industry, including aircraft and components manufacturers, avionics and navigation systems providers, as well as maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) companies, offering an integrated platform that covers the full value chain of the sector.

The event will also spotlight startups in advanced air mobility (AAM) and innovators of electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, showcasing technologies and business models shaping the future of aviation.

General Supervisor of the Saudi Aviation Club Dr. Ahmed Alfahaid stated that AERO Middle East x Sand & Fun 2026 represents a qualitative leap for the Kingdom’s aviation sector and reinforces its positioning as a global hub for general aviation and advanced air mobility.

The partnership with Messe Frankfurt Saudi Arabia goes beyond presenting global innovations to providing a vital platform for international investment and strategic collaboration, he stressed.

Moreover, the event contributes to achieving Saudi Vision 2030 objectives, including the Kingdom’s ambition to rank among the world’s top 10 general aviation markets, he added.


Saudi Arabia, Kazakhstan Agree to Establish Coordination Council

Saudi Minister of Energy Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman bin Abdulaziz receives Kazakhstan’s Foreign Minister Yermek Kosherbayev in Riyadh. (SPA)
Saudi Minister of Energy Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman bin Abdulaziz receives Kazakhstan’s Foreign Minister Yermek Kosherbayev in Riyadh. (SPA)
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Saudi Arabia, Kazakhstan Agree to Establish Coordination Council

Saudi Minister of Energy Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman bin Abdulaziz receives Kazakhstan’s Foreign Minister Yermek Kosherbayev in Riyadh. (SPA)
Saudi Minister of Energy Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman bin Abdulaziz receives Kazakhstan’s Foreign Minister Yermek Kosherbayev in Riyadh. (SPA)

Saudi Arabia and Kazakhstan agreed to establish a Saudi-Kazakh Coordination Council, reported the Saudi Press Agency on Tuesday.

Saudi Minister of Energy Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman bin Abdulaziz received in Riyadh Kazakhstan’s Foreign Minister Yermek Kosherbayev. Saudi FM Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah and Minister of Energy of Kazakhstan Yerlan Akkenzhenov also attended the meeting.

The talks tackled the establishment of the coordination council, which will be chaired by the Saudi minister of energy and Kazakhstan’s foreign minister. The council reflects the two countries’ commitment to strengthening cooperation and expanding their bilateral partnership.

Prince Abdulaziz and Kosherbayev signed an agreement on the establishment of the council, which aims to boost coordination and consultation between the two countries and develop frameworks for cooperation across various sectors of mutual interest, elevating bilateral relations to broader levels.

Prince Abdulaziz and Kosherbayev discussed relations between their countries and ways to develop them further, especially in the energy field. They tackled opportunities for cooperation and investment in renewable energy and energy storage systems and discussed oil market developments.