Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources has launched the Advanced Manufacturing and Production Center, a national hub designed to lead the Kingdom’s industrial transformation agenda and accelerate the adoption of Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) technologies.
The center will serve as the central platform overseeing smart-manufacturing programs and strengthening the global competitiveness of Saudi factories.
Speaking at the Saudi Industrial Transformation Expo 2025, Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources Bandar Alkhorayef said the center’s “Factories of the Future” program aims to upgrade more than 4,000 factories, transforming them into smart, automated facilities that rely on advanced digital and industrial technologies.
“This transition will significantly enhance the competitiveness and efficiency of the national industrial sector,” he noted.
The center is designed to advance key objectives aligned with Saudi Vision 2030, including accelerating the shift of existing factories toward smart-manufacturing ecosystems powered by artificial intelligence, robotics, and the Internet of Things.
It will also promote the deployment of cutting-edge, sustainable technologies to boost the performance of Saudi factories, support the localization of advanced and deep manufacturing capabilities previously imported, reduce supply-chain vulnerabilities, open new export avenues, and strengthen research, development, and innovation. Developing national talent and attracting high-value industrial investment are core components of the initiative.
Alkhorayef added that the ministry aims to boost Saudi Arabia’s global industrial standing by increasing the number of Saudi factories recognized by the World Economic Forum’s Global Lighthouse Network, which showcases global leaders in 4IR adoption.
The Kingdom has set a target of 14 factories joining the network by 2030.
As part of its support for the transformation effort, the ministry has also allocated 50 additional slots under the 4IR Initiative for factories participating in the expo. The initiative includes assessments using the Smart Industry Readiness Index (SIRI), the development of digital-transformation roadmaps, and the implementation of advanced-manufacturing solutions with certified technology partners.
These initiatives come amid substantial expansion in the Saudi industrial sector. The number of industrial facilities has grown by more than 65%, while total industrial investment has surpassed SAR 1.2 trillion (USD 320 billion). In 2016, Saudi Arabia had around 7,200 factories; by 2025, the number exceeded 12,000.
This growth has translated into record non-oil industrial exports, which reached SAR 515 billion (USD 137.5 billion) in 2024 - an increase of 13% compared with the previous year.
All of these efforts fall under the National Industrial Strategy, launched in October 2022, which focuses on 12 subsectors aimed at diversifying the Kingdom’s production base. The strategy identifies 118 priority industrial product groups and outlines more than 800 investment opportunities worth SAR 1 trillion.
