A senior UK official has revealed London’s plan to deepen its partnership with Riyadh in the fields of innovation and technology, as well as clean energy and hydrogen technologies. He emphasized that the United Kingdom is working to establish a high-level partnership with Saudi Arabia.
Speaking to Asharq Al-Awsat during his visit to the Kingdom, UK Secretary of State for Science, Innovation, and Technology, Peter Kyle stressed that the UK wants “to continue to work closely with Saudi Arabia to bring together our science and tech expertise so we can ensure potentially game-changing innovations can benefit both our nations."
"The UK and Saudi Arabia are natural partners in these areas, with shared ambitions when it comes to both innovation and our strengths in science and technology. Right across the world, breakthrough technologies like AI, quantum, and engineering biology are starting to transform our economies and societies," noted Kyle.
He also revealed: "With Saudi Arabia we of course laid the foundation for that work through our joint energy partnership, launched in January 2022 and further strengthened during the Prime Minister’s visit to Riyadh in December. We have made becoming a clean energy superpower one of our key government missions, and the growing demand for clean energy is a massive shared opportunity—for growth, for green jobs, and for enhanced energy security.
He pointed out: "By further building the commercial and investment ties between our two countries, we can drive research and innovation and build the skills we need to continue the net-zero transition—benefitting us all."
A Sustainable Partnership in New Technologies
Kyle stated that during his short visit, "I have had the enormous privilege to visit King Faisal Specialist Hospital & Research Center– where the first robotic heart transplant was successfully carried out in January this year – and where I was able to meet those medics responsible and even try out the technology myself. I was also able to visit King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology and The Garage and see for myself the incredible energy of the start up ecosystem in the Kingdom and hear about how companies are learning from each other."
The British minister noted that these technologies will "unlock improvements in our health, lead to cleaner and more sustainable ways of getting the energy we need, and will spark economic growth that everyone feels the benefit of."
Seizing Opportunities
Kyle said that "Saudi Arabia, and indeed countries right across the Gulf, have incredible aspirations for the development of their economies and societies and are fully aware of the role of science and technology in helping to realize those aspirations."
He continued: "Thanks to emerging technologies like AI, quantum, and engineering biology, the world stands on the cusp of a Fourth Industrial Revolution. We in the UK are moving fast to harness these opportunities, and have kick started 2025 with a call to action so we can build partnerships with companies all over the globe."
"Whether that’s helping us to deliver AI Growth Zones as set out in our new blueprint for AI, or kick starting a fund of up to £520 million to encourage life sciences manufacturing, the message I’m delivering to nations across the Gulf this week is that Britain is open for business," he stressed.
The Future of Clean Energy Cooperation
According to Kyle, “Cooperation around clean energy is a key and growing part of our relationships with Gulf partners, including Saudi Arabia. We work increasingly closely across a range of clean energy technologies including hydrogen, Carbon Capture Utilisation and Storage (CCUS), energy efficiency, and on how digital technologies can be used to make energy generation cleaner."
He added: "It has been a privilege to meet with members of the Saudi government today and I'm going to be speaking with nations across the Gulf this week. The message I’m sending out is clear: the opportunities of partnering with the UK are huge and the opportunities we have to learn from the Gulf states are just as great. "
He continued: "Whether that’s through accelerating the transition to net-zero, harnessing the impact of AI for everyone’s benefit, or realizing new advances in healthcare and life sciences - these all represent once-in-a-generation opportunities."
Kyle affirmed that "the UK has the chance to lead the world in these sectors, and I’m very excited by the potential of working alongside countries like Saudi Arabia who match that ambition."
