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Lenovo: Partnership with ALAT to Add $10 Billion to Saudi Economy by 2030

A Lenovo factory (the company’s website)
A Lenovo factory (the company’s website)
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Lenovo: Partnership with ALAT to Add $10 Billion to Saudi Economy by 2030

A Lenovo factory (the company’s website)
A Lenovo factory (the company’s website)

Following the establishment of a factory by Lenovo in Riyadh through a $1 billion partnership with Alat, a company affiliated with the Public Investment Fund, the project has now entered its active execution phase.

Production is scheduled to begin in 2026 and will see millions of desktop and laptop computers and servers carrying the “Made in Saudi” label being manufactured, coinciding with Saudi Arabia’s efforts to double non-oil industrial exports to $149 billion by 2030.

The Lenovo-Alat collaboration alone is expected to contribute as much as $10 billion to the Kingdom’s non-oil GDP by the end of this decade.

Officials from Lenovo’s Chinese headquarters told Asharq Al-Awsat that the project goes beyond a purely financial investment. It is intended to become a platform for digital innovation, artificial-intelligence applications and the integration of local start-ups into Lenovo’s global innovation chains, thereby enabling the Kingdom to benefit from the company’s international manufacturing and advanced-technology expertise.

They added that the project supports the aims of Saudi Vision 2030 by boosting domestic manufacturing, doubling non-oil industrial exports and generating direct and indirect employment for Saudi youth, alongside upskilling them in AI and advanced computing.

The initiative is among the most prominent examples of Saudi Arabia’s shift towards becoming a regional hub for advanced technologies and artificial intelligence, with a focus on integrating multinational companies into the local innovation ecosystem and localizing high-tech industries under global sustainability standards.

Lawrence Yu, Head of Lenovo’s Middle East & Africa regional headquarters, told Asharq Al-Awsat that the partnership with Alat “marks a turning point from dependence on imported technologies to developing local capabilities.”

He noted the project will transform the Kingdom into “a regional base for advanced manufacturing in computing and artificial intelligence.”

A State-of-the-Art Facility

Yu explained that the new facility in Riyadh has been designed according to the highest global sustainability standards. Production is set to commence in 2026, manufacturing millions of “Made in Saudi” desktop and laptop computers and servers, supporting both local and regional demand and positioning Saudi Arabia at the forefront of digital transformation in the region.

He added that the project will provide approximately 15,000 direct jobs and 45,000 indirect jobs, as well as support the development of local skills in AI and advanced digital technologies.

On his part, Giovanni Di Filippo, Vice President and General Manager for Lenovo Saudi Arabia, described the project as “a strategic step to reinforce the company’s global footprint and diversify its manufacturing geography.”

He explained that Lenovo will transfer part of its technology, manufacturing capabilities and supply-chains to the Kingdom, enabling local start-ups such as Novo Genomics and Nybl Global to be integrated into the company’s global innovation system and scale internationally.

Di Filippo noted that the project aligns with Vision 2030’s targets to enhance local manufacturing and increase the industrial sector’s contribution to GDP to more than $238 billion, and to double non-oil industrial exports to $149 billion by 2030. He emphasized that the Lenovo-Alat partnership alone will contribute up to $10 billion to the non-oil GDP by the end of the current decade.

The officials pointed out that this initiative marks a clear shift in the Kingdom’s strategy from reliance on imported technologies to building local capabilities. It reinforces Saudi Arabia’s role as a regional hub for AI and advanced computing, and supports the private sector and innovation across a variety of fields, including major digital and cultural events such as esports and Expo 2030.

Yu affirmed Lenovo’s commitment to supporting local entrepreneurs and equipping Saudi youth with future skills in advanced manufacturing and AI. He said the company is working with Alat on programs to develop the Saudi workforce, enabling them to lead the digital transformation and contribute to the knowledge-economy, in line with the Kingdom’s commitment to investing in human capital and innovation.

Di Filippo added that the project is not simply about technical manufacturing, but about localizing multinational companies and integrating them into Saudi Arabia’s innovation ecosystem.

He said the partnership with Alat ensures the benefit of extensive regional networks and deep local market experience, making the project a driver of innovation and industrial growth in the Kingdom.

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Business

Aramco Begins East-West Pipeline Expansion to Boost Oil Export Flexibility

Aramco CEO Amin Nasser speaks at a press conference. (Reuters)
Aramco CEO Amin Nasser speaks at a press conference. (Reuters)
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Aramco Begins East-West Pipeline Expansion to Boost Oil Export Flexibility

Aramco CEO Amin Nasser speaks at a press conference. (Reuters)
Aramco CEO Amin Nasser speaks at a press conference. (Reuters)

Saudi Aramco President and CEO Amin H. Nasser said on Tuesday that preliminary engineering had already started on a planned expansion of the kingdom's vital East-West pipeline as part of plans to increase oil flows through existing infrastructure, assess alternative export routes and explore expanding crude storage capacity at major demand centers. 

"Preliminary engineering is underway for an expansion of the East-West pipeline," Nasser said in an earnings call. The CEO said last month that Aramco hoped to increase the capacity of the pipeline network from 7 million to 10 million barrels a day.

Aramco reported a 9% year-on-year increase in adjusted net profit to 117 billion riyals ($31.2 billion) in the third quarter of this year, beating analysts’ expectations of $30.66 billion.

Nasser said the pipeline played a key role in providing additional oil export options during the disruptions, adding that the company was also considering expanding crude oil storage capacity at major demand centers and along export routes.

He said the long-term value of the East-West Pipeline investment had become evident amid the current disruptions to regional trade, noting that the company had recovered the pipeline’s entire construction cost in about 15 days.

Production Capacity

Nasser said Aramco was exploring additional oil export routes and storage capacity outside the Kingdom, while using Gulf export terminals and ship-to-ship transfers to deliver supplies to customers.

He added that the company could raise its maximum sustainable production capacity above 12 million barrels per day if the government decides to do so.

Biggest Supply Shock in the Energy Industry

He described the regional conflict as the biggest supply shock in the energy industry, saying Aramco maintained customer commitments by diversifying export routes, restoring facilities and optimizing operations.

The company’s resilience, he said, stemmed from decades of planning, robust infrastructure, skilled employees, local supply chains and technological innovation, enabling it to continue delivering major projects safely and on schedule despite disruptions.

Zuluf Field Production Expansion

The CEO said work to expand production at the Zuluf field had begun as planned, with additional capacity of up to 600,000 barrels per day expected by the end of the year. He added that Aramco was continuing to advance major crude-to-chemicals projects both inside and outside the Kingdom.

He said the upstream segment delivered stable results, reflecting continued price strength despite a decline from the previous quarter. Meanwhile, adjusted earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) in the downstream segment rose by more than $4 billion quarter on quarter.

Ability to Restore Production Within Weeks

Nasser said supplies had become indispensable, and demand remained strong, adding that Aramco could rapidly ramp up production. This capability positioned the company to generate significant financial gains.

More Than 90% of Restart Materials Sourced Locally

Aramco faced significant challenges during the disruptions but managed them through flexibility, speed, multiple options and operational excellence, he stated.

He explained that the company’s integrated response center coordinates management teams with specialized, multidisciplinary rapid-assessment teams, enabling a swift response to incidents and disruptions.

Nasser said Aramco’s local supply chains enabled the rapid sourcing and rerouting of critical materials to ensure operational continuity. The company also uses drones for real-time damage assessments, with more than 90% of restart materials sourced domestically. Independent benchmarks show Aramco completes emergency repairs six times faster than the industry average.

Capital Expenditure

Aramco remained disciplined in its capital spending, maintaining its 2026 capital expenditure guidance at $50 billion-$55 billion, Nasser undescored. The forecast includes costs to restore assets to service and a $2.6 billion cash investment in HUMAIN.

Aramco Invests $2.6 Billion in HUMAIN

He described Aramco’s 49% stake in HUMAIN, backed by a $2.6 billion cash investment and the transfer of key AI assets, as a strategic move to strengthen its competitive advantage and accelerate AI-driven growth.

The investment combines Aramco’s technology infrastructure, more than 90 years of operational experience and low-cost, lower-carbon energy to meet growing demand for AI computing.

HUMAIN aims to develop an integrated AI platform spanning data centers, cloud infrastructure, models and applications, with plans to reach 3 gigawatts of data center capacity by 2030 and become a leading global exporter of AI services.

Business

Investors Ready for Possible Shake-up in Congress as Election Day Arrives

A fountain near the US Capitol glows blue before sunrise on the day of the US midterm elections in Washington, DC, US, November 3, 2026. (Reuters)
A fountain near the US Capitol glows blue before sunrise on the day of the US midterm elections in Washington, DC, US, November 3, 2026. (Reuters)
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Investors Ready for Possible Shake-up in Congress as Election Day Arrives

A fountain near the US Capitol glows blue before sunrise on the day of the US midterm elections in Washington, DC, US, November 3, 2026. (Reuters)
A fountain near the US Capitol glows blue before sunrise on the day of the US midterm elections in Washington, DC, US, November 3, 2026. (Reuters)

Investors are weighing the market ‌implications of a possible shift in control of US Congress in Tuesday's midterm elections, focused on whether a strong Democratic showing could pave the way for greater volatility in asset prices, particularly the AI trade which has been a main driver for markets.

The midterms come at a fragile time for markets, with a swoon in AI shares causing investor unease that could be exacerbated by the election results. Tuesday's outcome could hold broad implications for market-sensitive areas including the AI data-center buildout, the US fiscal outlook, defense spending, and regulation in areas such as healthcare, banking and cryptocurrencies.

President Donald Trump's Republican party has controlled both chambers of Congress during the first two years of his second term. Opinion polls ‌show the Democrats ‌are likely to take the House, while the Senate is ‌too ⁠close to call.

"While ⁠probabilities increasingly favor a Blue sweep, several tightly contested Senate races leave open some possibility of Republican control of the Senate or, conversely, a greater than expected Democratic foothold in the Senate," Scott Chronert, US equity strategist at Citigroup, said in a research note. "Equity market reaction is likely positive in the former case and negative in the latter."

Strategists at UBS Global Wealth Management have assigned a 50% probability of a Democratic sweep, a 40% chance ⁠of Democrats winning the House while Republicans retain the Senate, and ‌a 10% probability that Republicans hang onto both ‌chambers.

"The most visible effects of a change in congressional control would likely be greater oversight of ‌the administration and more difficult fiscal negotiations," Mark Haefele, chief investment officer at UBS ‌Global Wealth Management, said in a note on Monday.

A Democratic-led Congress could exert greater scrutiny over AI companies, in part due to growing public opposition to data centers, a risk for a market that has been lifted by such investment spending. While analysts doubt any viable legislation would severely ‌undermine the data-center buildout regardless of the election outcome, they expect a Democratic sweep to lead to investigations into the technology ⁠sector.

Many investors have ⁠said they are eager to get past the elections, which have hung over the markets for the last several weeks. Since 1970, in midterm election years, the S&P 500 index has gained in every six-month period following the election, according to Edward Jones.

While equity volatility has increased in recent sessions, option-market traders are nonetheless not bracing for a massive stock market move following the election results.

Options on the S&P 500 index are priced for a move of about 0.8% in either direction on Wednesday, slightly higher than the 0.6% average implied daily move over the past month, according to ORATS data.

"We could see some volatility come out once there is a clear result, but I wouldn’t assume all that uncertainty disappears Wednesday morning," said Joe Tigay, portfolio manager at Equity Armor Investments. "Election hedges can expire; geopolitical risk doesn’t have an expiration date."

Business

Europe Entering Winter with Lowest Gas Reserves Since 2013, Says IEA

07 July 2025, Rehden: Technical facilities for the injection and withdrawal of natural gas, including several process water tanks, are located on the grounds of the Rehden natural gas storage facility operated by SEFE Storage GmbH. (dpa)
07 July 2025, Rehden: Technical facilities for the injection and withdrawal of natural gas, including several process water tanks, are located on the grounds of the Rehden natural gas storage facility operated by SEFE Storage GmbH. (dpa)
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Europe Entering Winter with Lowest Gas Reserves Since 2013, Says IEA

07 July 2025, Rehden: Technical facilities for the injection and withdrawal of natural gas, including several process water tanks, are located on the grounds of the Rehden natural gas storage facility operated by SEFE Storage GmbH. (dpa)
07 July 2025, Rehden: Technical facilities for the injection and withdrawal of natural gas, including several process water tanks, are located on the grounds of the Rehden natural gas storage facility operated by SEFE Storage GmbH. (dpa)

Europe is entering winter with its lowest level of natural gas reserves since 2013, which could extend pressure on the international market into 2027, the International Energy Agency warned Tuesday.

Europe's natural gas storage reservoirs were 75 percent full at the end of October, well below the minimum target of 80 percent fixed by the European Union and at its lowest level in more than a decade, the IEA said.

Several factors explain the situation.

Natural gas liquefaction facilities in the Gulf have been damaged in US-Iran war, while transit through the Strait of Hormuz has been reduced.

Moreover, European nations are filling their storage reservoirs from low levels at the end of the heating season in the spring.

Buyers had initially held off buying stocks in the hope prices would fall.

Deliveries stepped up in August, September and October, but not enough to make up for the delay, the IEA said.

The amount of gas injected into storage reservoirs this season was about four percent below the average of the past five years, it added.

That makes European nations more dependent upon securing deliveries of additional supplies of LNG to meet peak demand.

It could also make more vulnerable if the winter is colder than usual, there are technical problems in the gas network, or supply problems, said the IEA.

Germany insisted Monday that it would have enough gas for the winter despite missing a storage target.

German gas storage facilities are on average 61 percent full, according to the federal agency that oversees Germany's energy infrastructure and markets.

That is below a legally mandated target for 70 percent by November 1. It also lags behind the European Union average of nearly 75 percent, according to the storage tracking platform AGSI.