Hanwha Aerospace has launched its regional headquarters in Riyadh for the Middle East and North Africa region, marking a significant milestone in the company’s strategic expansion in the region, the company announced on Sept. 3.
This move reflects Hanwha’s long-term commitment to enhancing partnerships, advancing industrial cooperation, and supporting defense modernization initiatives across the region.
The inauguration ceremony was attended by His Excellency Eng. Ahmad bin Abdulazia Al-Ohali, governor of the General Authority for Military Industries (GAMI), and Seok Jong-gun, minister of the Republic of Korea Defense Acquisition Program Administrator (DAPA). About 80 distinguished delegates from the Korean Embassy in the Kingdom, the Saudi Ministry of Defense, the Ministry of National Guard, the Ministry of Investment, and the Saudi Arabian Military Industries (SAMI) attended the event, alongside the global leadership team of Hanwha represented by Hanwha Aerospace, Hanwha Systems, and Hanwha Ocean.
The launch of Hanwha’s operations in Saudi Arabia not only marks a significant step forward in enhancing local content and building sovereign capabilities in the military industries sector, but also broadens cooperation beyond defense into smart cities, renewable energy, and the space sector, positioning the Riyadh RHQ as a gateway for expansion across the Gulf and North Africa.
“The inauguration of the MENA Regional Headquarters marks a key milestone for Hanwha to further strengthen cooperation with Saudi Arabia and other key countries across the Middle East and North Africa,” said Sung Il, president for Middle East and Africa, at the ceremony. “Building on the foundation of collaboration Hanwha has established throughout the region, our new headquarters will serve as a regional hub for cooperation in land, naval, and aerospace systems—helping enhance security while supporting industrial growth and job creation.”
Leveraging its proven track record in defense, aerospace, and advanced technologies, Hanwha aims to foster enduring cooperation that strengthens regional security, accelerates industrial growth, and delivers sustainable partnerships with MENA nations.
Saudi Arabia serves as the pivotal anchor of Hanwha’s MENA vision, given the Kingdom’s leadership in defense modernization and industrial transformation under Vision 2030. In alignment with the goal to localize more than 50% of Saudi Arabia’s defense spending on equipment and services by 2030, Hanwha Aerospace aims to expand local supply chains, establishing joint production lines, and creating high-skilled jobs. These initiatives will reinforce the Kingdom’s defense ecosystem, drive economic diversification, and strengthen supply chain resilience.
As part of this commitment, Hanwha is exploring opportunities to establish maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) facilities, launch technical training and education programs, and pursue joint research and development projects in Saudi Arabia. These initiatives mirror Hanwha’s broader strategy to contribute to Vision 2030 through technology transfer, localization, and job creation.
Hanwha’s advanced defense portfolio—including the K9 self-propelled howitzer, Tigon 8×8 armored vehicle, and next-generation air defense systems such as the M-SAM—is central to its partnership strategy. These combat-proven solutions, combined with investments in local production and technology transfer, will further deepen cooperation with Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Egypt, and other regional partners.
Hanwha has also engaged in high-level dialogues with regional leaders to advance bilateral cooperation. In November 2024, Hanwha Vice Chairman Kim Dong-kwan met with Prince Abdullah bin Bandar bin Abdulaziz, Saudi minister of the National Guard (MNG), to explore opportunities in defense modernization and industrial partnerships. This reaffirmed a shared commitment to strengthening strategic defense capabilities and supporting Saudi Arabia’s broader economic diversification agenda.
