24 February 2020 – Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates: Saudi Arabian Military Industries (SAMI) will showcase opportunities for growth and development within the Kingdom’s defence sector at the Global Aerospace Summit 2020. The event, taking place in Abu Dhabi on 17-19 March, is one of the world’s leading thought leadership forums for the aviation, aerospace, space and defence industries.  

SAMI is a national holding company owned 100% by the Public Investment Fund (PIF); a sovereign wealth fund owned by Saudi Arabia. SAMI develops and supports military industries in Saudi Arabia and plays a major role in supporting efforts to localise more than 50% of the Kingdom’s military spending by 2030. The Kingdom is ranked in the top five countries in terms of military expenditures worldwide. This position enables tremendous investment opportunities. 

SAMI will be representing the growing bilateral ties between KSA and the UAE during the Summit, as well as the increased regional focus on defence. SAMI will participate in the summit through a speaking delegation led by Dr. Andreas Schwer, CEO of SAMI, Walid Abu Khaled, CSO - Chief Strategy and Business Development Officer at SAMI, and Mohammed Bushnag, Vice President of Human Resources at SAMI. The delegation will address the key factors impacting the industry including Saudi-UAE bilateral relations, international partnerships, the Kingdom's 2030 vision and its role in developing and localising the nation’s military industry, as well as future investment opportunities within the defence sector.  

EDGE, the newly established advanced technology group for defence in the UAE joined Mubadala Investment Company as the host partner of the Global Aerospace Summit 2020. Held under the theme of ‘insights and integration’, the Global Aerospace Summit 2020 will offer a platform for the UAE to highlight its strategy of working with international partners to enhance and develop local capabilities. It will also be an opportunity to showcase methods for building national technological skills and leveraging cutting-edge solutions to achieve ambitious visions for the future.