Saudi Industry Minister Discusses Opportunities to Develop Aviation, Space Industry in the Kingdom

Saudi Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources Bandar Alkhorayef visits the JetZero and SpaceX companies during his visit to the US. (SPA)
Saudi Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources Bandar Alkhorayef visits the JetZero and SpaceX companies during his visit to the US. (SPA)
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Saudi Industry Minister Discusses Opportunities to Develop Aviation, Space Industry in the Kingdom

Saudi Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources Bandar Alkhorayef visits the JetZero and SpaceX companies during his visit to the US. (SPA)
Saudi Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources Bandar Alkhorayef visits the JetZero and SpaceX companies during his visit to the US. (SPA)

Saudi Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources Bandar Alkhorayef visited JetZero, a company specializing in aviation, and SpaceX, the aerospace giant, in California, reported the Saudi Press Agency on Sunday.

He discussed boosting opportunities for cooperation in the aviation and space industries in the Kingdom.

Alkhorayef met with JetZero founder and CTO Mark Page to discuss potential partnerships in the aviation sector, the development of local supply chains for aviation components, and the utilization of Saudi Arabia's mineral resources.

These efforts aim to boost local manufacturing capabilities, particularly in the aviation sector, which is one of the key industries targeted by Saudi Arabia’s National Industrial Strategy.

JetZero, founded in 2018 in Long Beach, California, is a startup in the aviation industry. Its primary mission is to develop aircraft with an innovative "Blended Wing Body" design that aims to achieve high fuel efficiency and significantly reduce emissions.

The company focuses on becoming a leader in sustainable aviation by designing aircraft that consume up to 50% less fuel compared to conventional planes, thereby reducing aviation's carbon footprint.

Alkhorayef also met with SpaceX CFO Brett Johnson to discuss opportunities for developing the space industry and supporting efforts to bolster supply chain development. Discussions also emphasized the services and incentives offered by the Kingdom's industry and mineral resources ecosystem for such partnerships and strategic programs.

Founded by Elon Musk in 2002, SpaceX is a leading US company in the aviation and space sectors. The company's ambitious vision is to enable human exploration of Mars by developing groundbreaking rocket and spacecraft technologies.

The National Industrial Strategy outlines a promising future for the Kingdom's aviation and space sectors, aiming to launch the first Saudi satellite and focusing on the adoption of cutting-edge technologies such as artificial intelligence and drones. This strategy will strengthen the competitiveness of the national industry and position Saudi Arabia among the world's leading countries in these fields.

Alkhorayef’s visit is part of ongoing efforts to foster industrial and mining cooperation, strengthen ties between Saudi Arabia and the US and attract high-quality investments to the Kingdom.



Saudi Arabia Calls for Global Water Cooperation to Advance Integrated Management

The first preparatory meeting for the 11th World Water Forum 2027 kicked off in Riyadh on Monday. (11th World Water Forum 2027 | Riyadh 2027 on X)
The first preparatory meeting for the 11th World Water Forum 2027 kicked off in Riyadh on Monday. (11th World Water Forum 2027 | Riyadh 2027 on X)
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Saudi Arabia Calls for Global Water Cooperation to Advance Integrated Management

The first preparatory meeting for the 11th World Water Forum 2027 kicked off in Riyadh on Monday. (11th World Water Forum 2027 | Riyadh 2027 on X)
The first preparatory meeting for the 11th World Water Forum 2027 kicked off in Riyadh on Monday. (11th World Water Forum 2027 | Riyadh 2027 on X)

The first preparatory meeting for the 11th World Water Forum 2027 kicked off in Riyadh on Monday with the participation of top scientists, experts, decision-makers from around the world.

Saudi Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture Abdulrahman Alfadley, with the participation of World Water Council President Loïc Fauchon, inaugurated the official logo of the World Water Forum 2027.

In his remarks, Alfadley emphasized Saudi Arabia’s call for strengthened international cooperation and joint efforts among countries and organizations to tackle global water challenges. He underscored the importance of ensuring universal access to water and sanitation services as a key pillar in achieving Sustainable Development Goal 6 (SDG 6).

“Saudi Arabia prioritizes the water sector through various measures, including the adoption of a national strategy encompassing water production, storage, transportation, distribution, treatment, and reuse, all within a comprehensive institutional framework,” Alfadley added.

He further stated that the Kingdom has implemented Integrated Water Resources Management and enhanced supply chain governance. This is supported by the release of a long-term supply and demand plan that extends to 2050, alongside a commitment to environmental, social, and economic considerations in alignment with Saudi Vision 2030.

Highlighting the Kingdom's leading role in supporting regional and international water issues, Alfadley pointed to the launching of the Global Water Organization, aimed at fostering international collaboration, and the establishment of an International Water Research Center focused on water economics, water security, advanced technologies, and digital transformation.

Fauchon said the council, in collaboration with Saudi authorities, has developed a comprehensive framework outlining the thematic, regional, and political components that will shape the roadmap for the 11th edition of the forum that is being held in the Middle East for the first time.

He stressed the need to make water a top global priority, adding that this gathering will lay the foundation for future water policies. “The way ahead is still long, but we are confident we’re on the right path toward real solutions—solutions that can change lives,” he said.

Deputy Minister for Water at the Ministry of Environment, Water, and Agriculture Dr. Abdulaziz Alshaibani underscored the urgency of the current moment, describing the preparatory meeting as a call for serious and immediate action. Alshaibani emphasized the need to build upon existing progress in the water sector and to move decisively towards solidifying priorities.

He stressed the importance of greater coherence and integration across all sectors, along with the unification of all efforts, to achieve tangible solutions to global water challenges and to meet SDG 6. Alshaibani further noted that effective solutions must be anchored in several key pillars, including financing, innovation, diplomacy, and environmental considerations.

The World Water Forum 2027, organized by the World Water Council in Saudi Arabia, is a significant international platform for exchanging ideas and experiences in water management.