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Saudi Arabia’s NSG: Kingdom Has What It Takes to Become Regional Hub for Space Technologies

A view of Earth from space. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
A view of Earth from space. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Saudi Arabia’s NSG: Kingdom Has What It Takes to Become Regional Hub for Space Technologies

A view of Earth from space. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
A view of Earth from space. (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Saudi Arabia is setting the foundation for a sovereign and integrated space economy, according to Martjin Blanken, CEO of Neo Space Group (NSG), a company backed by the Public Investment Fund (PIF).

In an interview with Asharq Al-Awsat, Blanken emphasized that strategic investment in space infrastructure and technology is not a luxury, but a prerequisite for achieving the Kingdom’s long-term goals in this critical sector.

Riyadh, he noted, possesses all the necessary assets to emerge as the leading regional center for space technologies.

Blanken underscored that Saudi Arabia is not merely building a new economic sector, but is redefining the concept of national sovereignty in a rapidly digitizing world. In this new era, satellite systems and geospatial data have become strategic assets, much like oil pipelines were in the 20th century.

The Kingdom’s new vision extends beyond being a user or consumer of space technologies, aiming instead for full empowerment through technology acquisition, industrial localization, and the development of domestic talent in the space sector.

NSG is focused on establishing what it calls “sovereign digital infrastructure,” ensuring Saudi Arabia has comprehensive capabilities in satellite communications, Earth observation, and navigation services. This would secure technological autonomy and position the country as an industrial leader within the region.

According to the 2025 report from the Communications, Space, and Technology Commission, Saudi Arabia’s space economy is projected to grow from $8.7 billion in 2024 to $31.6 billion by 2035, with a compound annual growth rate of 12 percent. The space services and infrastructure market alone is expected to expand from $1.9 billion to $5.6 billion during the same period.

Blanken attributed this growth to strong government backing, particularly through PIF, which has invested in both domestic and international platforms across a range of activities including satellite services, remote sensing, and data analytics.

He likened this phase of space investment to the early days of the Kingdom’s oil, industrial, and tourism sectors, long-term decisions that reshaped the national economy.

What sets the space sector apart in Saudi Arabia is its wide range of applications across various industries. Rather than being a standalone technical domain, it serves as an enabling platform for other sectors. Remote sensing technologies are now integral to smart agriculture and water resource management, while satellite navigation systems improve supply chains and logistics operations.

Blanken also highlighted the strategic importance of space in supporting national security. In sectors such as oil, mining, and defense, space technologies contribute to geological surveying, border monitoring, secure communications, and disaster response. As such, space has evolved into a core infrastructure for national security, economic growth, and environmental governance.

Saudi Arabia’s approach is to transform the space sector from a research-driven initiative into a robust economic engine. This aligns with Vision 2030, which prioritizes economic diversification and technological independence.

NSG, as the first national space company supported by PIF, plays a multifaceted role in service development, industrial localization, and talent cultivation. The group recently joined the industrial collaboration program at King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), becoming the first space company to do so, a move that reinforces its commitment to R&D and training Saudi professionals.

NSG is working to localize four key pillars of the space sector: satellite communications for aviation and broadband; Earth observation through local imaging and data platforms; navigation and positioning via the development of SBAS and GNSS systems for domestic applications; and a venture capital fund to support space startups.

Strategic partnerships with international firms such as SES, Esri, G&S SatCom, and SuperMap also include clear provisions for technology transfer and the establishment of research centers within Saudi Arabia. The aim is not just to consume imported technologies, but to develop them locally and empower Saudi engineers to lead.

The Kingdom is also expanding its reach across regional markets in civil aviation, defense, agriculture, and geospatial services. NSG recently secured a license from the national space regulator to provide Earth observation services across the Middle East.

Blanken said that upcoming projects include the outfitting of Thai Airways aircraft with satellite connectivity and the commercial launch of satellite-based IoT services in partnership with OQ Technology by the end of the same year.

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IMF and Arab Monetary Fund Sign MoU to Enhance Cooperation

The MoU was signed by IMF Managing Director Dr. Kristalina Georgieva and AMF Director General Dr. Fahad Alturki - SPA
The MoU was signed by IMF Managing Director Dr. Kristalina Georgieva and AMF Director General Dr. Fahad Alturki - SPA
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IMF and Arab Monetary Fund Sign MoU to Enhance Cooperation

The MoU was signed by IMF Managing Director Dr. Kristalina Georgieva and AMF Director General Dr. Fahad Alturki - SPA
The MoU was signed by IMF Managing Director Dr. Kristalina Georgieva and AMF Director General Dr. Fahad Alturki - SPA

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the Arab Monetary Fund (AMF) signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on the sidelines of the AlUla Conference on Emerging Market Economies (EME) to enhance cooperation between the two institutions.

The MoU was signed by IMF Managing Director Dr. Kristalina Georgieva and AMF Director General Dr. Fahad Alturki, SPA reported.

The agreement aims to strengthen coordination in economic and financial policy areas, including surveillance and lending activities, data and analytical exchange, capacity building, and the provision of technical assistance, in support of regional financial and economic stability.

Both sides affirmed that the MoU represents an important step toward deepening their strategic partnership and strengthening the regional financial safety net, serving member countries and enhancing their ability to address economic challenges.

Business

Saudi Chambers Federation Announces First Saudi-Kuwaiti Business Council

File photo of the Saudi flag/AAWSAT
File photo of the Saudi flag/AAWSAT
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Saudi Chambers Federation Announces First Saudi-Kuwaiti Business Council

File photo of the Saudi flag/AAWSAT
File photo of the Saudi flag/AAWSAT

The Federation of Saudi Chambers announced the formation of the first joint Saudi-Kuwaiti Business Council for its inaugural term (1447–1451 AH) and the election of Salman bin Hassan Al-Oqayel as its chairman.

Al-Oqayel said the council’s formation marks a pivotal milestone in economic relations between Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, reflecting a practical approach to enabling the business sectors in both countries to capitalize on promising investment opportunities and strengthen bilateral trade and investment partnerships, SPA reported.

He noted that trade between Saudi Arabia and Kuwait reached approximately SAR9.5 billion by the end of November 2025, including SAR8 billion in Saudi exports and SAR1.5 billion in Kuwaiti imports.

Business

Leading Harvard Trade Economist Says Saudi Arabia Holds Key to Success in Fragmented Global Economy

Professor Pol Antràs speaks during a panel discussion at the AlUla Conference for Emerging Market Economies (Asharq Al-Awsat).
Professor Pol Antràs speaks during a panel discussion at the AlUla Conference for Emerging Market Economies (Asharq Al-Awsat).
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Leading Harvard Trade Economist Says Saudi Arabia Holds Key to Success in Fragmented Global Economy

Professor Pol Antràs speaks during a panel discussion at the AlUla Conference for Emerging Market Economies (Asharq Al-Awsat).
Professor Pol Antràs speaks during a panel discussion at the AlUla Conference for Emerging Market Economies (Asharq Al-Awsat).

Harvard University economics professor Pol Antràs said Saudi Arabia represents an exceptional model in the shifting global trade landscape, differing fundamentally from traditional emerging-market frameworks. He also stressed that globalization has not ended but has instead re-formed into what he describes as fragmented integration.

Speaking to Asharq Al-Awsat on the sidelines of the AlUla Conference for Emerging Market Economies, Antràs said Saudi Arabia’s Vision-driven structural reforms position the Kingdom to benefit from the ongoing phase of fragmented integration, adding that the country’s strategic focus on logistics transformation and artificial intelligence constitutes a key engine for sustainable growth that extends beyond the volatility of global crises.

Antràs, the Robert G. Ory Professor of Economics at Harvard University, is one of the leading contemporary theorists of international trade. His research, which reshaped understanding of global value chains, focuses on how firms organize cross-border production and how regulation and technological change influence global trade flows and corporate decision-making.

He said conventional classifications of economies often obscure important structural differences, noting that the term emerging markets groups together countries with widely divergent industrial bases. Economies that depend heavily on manufacturing exports rely critically on market access and trade integration and therefore face stronger competitive pressures from Chinese exports that are increasingly shifting toward alternative markets.

Saudi Arabia, by contrast, exports extensively while facing limited direct competition from China in its primary export commodity, a situation that creates a strategic opportunity. The current environment allows the Kingdom to obtain imports from China at lower cost and access a broader range of goods that previously flowed largely toward the United States market.

Addressing how emerging economies should respond to dumping pressures and rising competition, Antràs said countries should minimize protectionist tendencies and instead position themselves as committed participants in the multilateral trading system, allowing foreign producers to access domestic markets while encouraging domestic firms to expand internationally.

He noted that although Chinese dumping presents concerns for countries with manufacturing sectors that compete directly with Chinese production, the risk is lower for Saudi Arabia because it does not maintain a large manufacturing base that overlaps directly with Chinese exports. Lower-cost imports could benefit Saudi consumers, while targeted policy tools such as credit programs, subsidies, and support for firms seeking to redesign and upgrade business models represent more effective responses than broad protectionist measures.

Globalization has not ended

Antràs said globalization continues but through more complex structures, with trade agreements increasingly negotiated through diverse arrangements rather than relying primarily on multilateral negotiations. Trade deals will continue to be concluded, but they are likely to become more complex, with uncertainty remaining a defining feature of the global trading environment.

Interest rates and artificial intelligence

According to Antràs, high global interest rates, combined with the additional risk premiums faced by emerging markets, are constraining investment, particularly in sectors that require export financing, capital expenditure, and continuous quality upgrading.

However, he noted that elevated interest rates partly reflect expectations of stronger long-term growth driven by artificial intelligence and broader technological transformation.

He also said if those growth expectations materialize, productivity gains could enable small and medium-sized enterprises to forecast demand more accurately and identify previously untapped markets, partially offsetting the negative effects of higher borrowing costs.

Employment concerns and the role of government

The Harvard professor warned that labor markets face a dual challenge stemming from intensified Chinese export competition and accelerating job automation driven by artificial intelligence, developments that could lead to significant disruptions, particularly among younger workers. He said governments must adopt proactive strategies requiring substantial fiscal resources to mitigate near-term labor-market shocks.

According to Antràs, productivity growth remains the central condition for success: if new technologies deliver the anticipated productivity gains, governments will gain the fiscal space needed to compensate affected groups and retrain the workforce, achieving a balance between addressing short-term disruptions and investing in long-term strategic gains.