By Julia Rota
In 2016, Saudi Arabia unveiled Vision 2030, a bold strategic framework aimed at diversifying the economy away from oil dependence, empowering citizens, attracting international investment, and establishing the Kingdom as a global leader in innovation and advanced industries. Central to this vision is the transformation of Saudi Arabia into a hub for advanced manufacturing, powered by cutting-edge technologies like automation, AI, and clean energy.
Enter Alat, a Public Investment Fund (PIF)-backed company founded in February 2024 and headquartered in Riyadh. Meaning “machine” in Arabic, Alat is designed to accelerate this shift by creating a world-class, sustainable manufacturing ecosystem. Backed by a $100 billion commitment, Alat focuses on seven key sectors: semiconductors, smart devices, advanced industrials, smart buildings, smart appliances, smart health, and next-generation infrastructure. Its goals are ambitious: create 39,000 direct jobs and contribute $9.3 billion to non-oil GDP by 2030, all while leveraging Saudi Arabia’s abundant clean energy to achieve carbon-neutral production.
Alat’s CEO, Amit Midha—a seasoned tech executive formerly with Dell Technologies—engages daily with global leaders facing supply chain disruptions, talent shortages, and rapid technological change. “We have an unmatched geographical location for supply chain resilience, world-class government policies, ready infrastructure, and a highly skilled talent base,” Midha explains. “Combined with competitive energy costs and an ecosystem built around automation and AI, we enable our partners to transform, scale, and thrive.”
Saudi Arabia’s strategic location at the crossroads of three continents, coupled with investments in logistics (including 28 airports and 10 seaports by 2030) and a commitment to 50% renewable energy by the same year, positions Alat uniquely to offer resilient, low-carbon manufacturing solutions.
Alat has moved swiftly, securing strategic alliances with global giants to localize production and export innovation.
Lenovo Partnership: In 2024, Alat invested in a $2 billion deal with Lenovo, including convertible bonds and collaboration agreements finalized in early 2025. This led to groundbreaking on a 200,000-square-meter facility in Riyadh—Lenovo’s largest outside China and the only global site producing PCs, servers, and mobile devices under one roof. Highly automated with embedded AI, the plant began PC and server production in 2025, with exports planned. This partnership enhances supply chain resilience in the Middle East and Africa (MEA) while creating skilled jobs and transferring technology.
TK Elevator Joint Venture: Alat acquired a 15% stake in TK Elevator and formed a €160 million JV, finalized in 2025 after regulatory approvals. This establishes Saudi Arabia’s first global-company-owned elevator and escalator manufacturing operation, complete with a product development center. Incorporating AI-driven predictive maintenance, it targets the Kingdom’s giga-projects and exports to the MEA region, boosting urban mobility and safety standards.
Softbank Robotics Collaboration: A JV with SoftBank Group is manufacturing next-generation autonomous industrial robots in a state-of-the-art facility. Production ramped up in 2025, with exports beginning by mid-year. These affordable, high-performance robots are set to redefine global manufacturing efficiency. Other early partnerships include Carrier for climate solutions, Dahua for security tech, and initiatives in semiconductors with KACST.
As Midha notes, this moment is “the opportunity of a lifetime.” By embedding AI and automation from the ground up, developing local talent, and prioritizing sustainability, Alat is not just building factories—it’s forging a resilient, export-oriented economy.
Backed by PIF and Vision 2030, Alat invites global companies to join an ecosystem where strategic investment meets world-class infrastructure. In doing so, Saudi Arabia is rapidly emerging as a premier destination for advanced, sustainable manufacturing—a true global hub for the future.
