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Saudi Military Industries Eye Localization, Tech Transfer Partnerships

Saudi General Authority for Military Industries (GAMI) Governor Ahmed Al-Ohali at the Defense and Security Equipment International Exhibition (DSEI) in London. (SPA)
Saudi General Authority for Military Industries (GAMI) Governor Ahmed Al-Ohali at the Defense and Security Equipment International Exhibition (DSEI) in London. (SPA)
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Saudi Military Industries Eye Localization, Tech Transfer Partnerships

Saudi General Authority for Military Industries (GAMI) Governor Ahmed Al-Ohali at the Defense and Security Equipment International Exhibition (DSEI) in London. (SPA)
Saudi General Authority for Military Industries (GAMI) Governor Ahmed Al-Ohali at the Defense and Security Equipment International Exhibition (DSEI) in London. (SPA)

Saudi Arabia’s General Authority for Military Industries (GAMI), responsible for localizing, organizing, and empowering the military industries sector in the Kingdom, is participating in the renowned Defense and Security Equipment International Exhibition (DSEI).

The DESI kicked off its activities in London on Tuesday with a broad and global attendance.

At first glance, Saudi participation appears to be related to defense cooperation or striking business with companies. However, when reading the Kingdom’s pavilion slogan, “Invest Saudi,” visitors soon realize that GAMI is looking to attract investments.

Speaking to Asharq Al-Awsat, GAMI Governor Ahmed Al-Ohali said that the pavilion looks towards more localization and transferring technology to the Kingdom, as well as expanding international partnerships.

The governor also revealed that GAMI aims to conclude strategic and critical agreements to maximize the role of women in the military industries sector. The authority will do so with Saudi universities and research centers.

“We are committed to completing the march,” Al-Ohali told Asharq Al-Awsat, adding that GAMI is relying on the efforts of Saudi men and women to achieve its localization goals.

“Saudi women have strengthened their presence in the sector by engaging in the military-industrial system in the Kingdom,” he revealed, adding that GAMI is “keen on empowering Saudi women.”

He pointed out the unprecedented presence of female engineers and technicians in various disciplines serving this vital sector.

Describing the growth witnessed by GAMI, the governor used the term “remarkable.”

According to Al-Ohali, the number of licensed companies in the first half of 2021 reached 99 local, international, and mixed companies.

He said that these companies want to be a part of the development of the Saudi economy and have decided to pump their funds into the Kingdom based on its strategic location and qualitative capabilities.

Saudi Arabia has also facilitated procedures for foreign investors.

Al-Ohali stressed that the Kingdom’s leadership had given the military industries sector “limitless” support and care to strengthen Saudi Arabia’s strategic independence.

The sector strategy approved by the Saudi Council of Ministers consists of three main pillars.

They include acquisition, industry, and research, and technology.

Al-Ohali confirmed that GAMI is working with all the parties concerned with attracting investment to the Kingdom to ensure that an integrated picture of the investment environment in the Kingdom is presented.

“The Kingdom has become an ideal destination for investment in this sector in particular and the rest of the other industrial sectors in general,” stressed Al-Ohali.

“We worked with partners and came up with 74 investment opportunities related to localization in supply chains across six defense and security areas,” he remarked.

“We met with more than 350 investors and partners to identify these opportunities, and we worked side by side with our partners in the public and private sectors to develop a clear roadmap for industrial targets in the sector,” noted Al-Ohali.

As for Saudi Arabia’s participation in the DSEI, he said it aims at shedding light on the promising investment opportunities in the sector, supporting investors, and facilitating their access to the Saudi military and security industries market.

He added that the military industries system in Saudi Arabia, represented by GAMI and all its public and private sector partners, realize the strategic goal of localizing the military industries in Saudi Arabia with more than 50% of the country’s expenditure on military equipment and services by 2030.

Saudi Arabia’s participation at the DSEI event is expected to unlock the Middle East opportunity for UK firms. A senior-level delegation will be at the DSEI Saudi Pavilion to highlight opportunities in the Gulf defense show market.

Several high-level dignitaries and leaders, and key executives of large multinationals are set to visit the Saudi Pavilion, which will showcase a comprehensive portfolio of defense systems and solutions.

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Hevolution CEO Discusses Career in Innovation, Medicine, and Business

Dr. Mehmood Khan, CEO of the Hevolution Foundation
Dr. Mehmood Khan, CEO of the Hevolution Foundation
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Hevolution CEO Discusses Career in Innovation, Medicine, and Business

Dr. Mehmood Khan, CEO of the Hevolution Foundation
Dr. Mehmood Khan, CEO of the Hevolution Foundation

Dr. Mehmood Khan, CEO of the Hevolution Foundation, the largest philanthropy organization funding aging medicine in the world, expressed that receiving Saudi citizenship will boost his scientific and practical capabilities.
He said this new status will help him advance his research, especially in addressing aging.
This comes as part of a recent royal decree granting Saudi citizenship to several notable scholars, doctors, researchers, and innovators.
“Our Chairman, his Royal Highness (Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman), has very high expectations of our work and the impact we need to do; We were created in part because of his vision,” Khan told Asharq Al-Awsat.
“Living up to the expectations and challenges we get faced with is itself exciting, but it is challenging,” revealed Khan, affirming that Hevolution’s team is “up to that task.”
Khan, who has experience in both corporate and medical fields, told Asharq Al-Awsat that his work across academic, public, and private sectors has been a continuous learning process, with each area enhancing the others.
According to the CEO, these industries are interconnected, and combining their strengths often leads to the best solutions.
This insight inspired the Hevolution initiative, which brings together the scientific community, NGOs, pharmaceutical companies, policymakers, academia, biotech firms, CEOs, and others to promote healthy aging.
Khan highlighted the value of integrating insights from different sectors.
Academia provides detailed research, the public sector offers insights on population health and regulations, and the corporate world brings innovation and efficiency, explained Khan, adding that by merging these perspectives, the world can tackle complex health challenges more effectively.
“We’ve been working through, and are now investing, funding and partnering with over 200 scientists around the world, and over 150 different university labs,” said Khan.
Hevolution uses this integrated approach to advance healthy aging.
This initiative embodies my passion for addressing major challenges and offers a significant opportunity to make a global impact.
Khan talked about the first $400 million commitment Hevolution made in the last 23 months, calling it “unprecedented.”
“There has never been a non-profit organization in the world that has gone from not existing to now becoming the largest philanthropy funding aging biology and medicine in the world,” affirmed Khan.
Khan stressed that work at Hevolution not only pushes scientific boundaries but also promotes cross-sector collaboration to improve global health outcomes.
Since Khan’s early days in medical school, he’s been deeply interested in nutrition and population health, which was an unconventional focus back then. This journey set the foundation for his later work in community health.
Khan’s time as an endocrinology faculty member at the Mayo Clinic was crucial. He led programs on diabetes, endocrine diseases, metabolism, and nutrition, which strengthened his expertise in designing disease prevention systems.
In the private sector, Khan took on a key role at Takeda Pharmaceutical as the global head of R&D, which shaped his approach to innovative healthcare solutions.
At PepsiCo, as Chief Scientific Officer, he learned crucial principles of scale, impact, transformation, and tackling global challenges.
As CEO of Hevolution, Khan uses all his professional experience to advance the foundation’s mission of developing health sciences to address age-related diseases.
Khan serves on the boards of Reckitt Benckiser and the Saudi Research, Development, and Innovation Authority (RDIA).
He is the CEO of Life Biosciences, a member of Saudi Arabia’s biotechnology strategy committee, and the chair of the advanced technology visiting committee at the US National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST).
Khan told Asharq Al-Awsat that he feels honored to have recently become a Saudi citizen by royal decree, while also holding dual US and UK citizenship. This helps him lead Hevolution effectively and work closely with international partners.
Khan commented on his recent Saudi citizenship, saying that in addition to feeling honored to receive Saudi citizenship by royal decree, alongside other distinguished individuals, this recognition is a great privilege.
Being a Saudi citizen, as per Khan, is a significant milestone and acknowledges the progress in his work in aging science and global health. It also strengthens Khan’s commitment to the work at Hevolution.
Khan noted that this new status enhances his ability to build relationships and collaborate within the Kingdom and internationally. It offers a deeper connection with the local community and better opportunities to engage with policymakers and leaders.
He also said that this recognition boosts Hevolution’s global presence and credibility, making the foundation’s collaborations with international scientists and business leaders stronger. It positions Hevolution as a key player in addressing age-related diseases.
Khan emphasized that this honor reflects the hard work and innovation of Hevolution’s entire team.
The CEO said that it was collective efforts that have made this achievement possible.
Khan also said he is excited to engage more deeply with the scientific and medical community in the Kingdom, adding that his new citizenship helps him contribute to Vision 2030 and the national biotechnology strategy, promoting innovation and attracting top global talent.