Committed to Saudi manufacturing

Saudi Arabia

Hussein Zein, vice-president for Saudi Arabia and Bahrain at Emerson Automation Technologies and Solutions, talks to The Energy Year about the company’s growing manufacturing footprint and engaging local supply chains to incorporate capabilities into the Emerson portfolio. Emerson is a global technology and software company that provides industrial process automation solutions.

How is Emerson supporting Saudi Arabia’s energy ambitions and Vision 2030?
Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 provides a roadmap for localisation and achieving economic diversification and sustainable development, which aligns perfectly with our commitment to local manufacturing and organisational development. From the outset, we have been dedicated to supporting Saudi Arabia’s vision, and over the past several years, we have expanded our manufacturing footprint and our service and engineering capabilities to serve the needs of our industrial customers.
We operate multiple facilities in Saudi Arabia – in Dhahran, Dammam and Jubail. Emerson’s latest investment, our manufacturing hub at SPARK, marks a significant milestone. This fully integrated manufacturing hub consolidates our entire Saudi manufacturing portfolio under one roof, enabling us to introduce new capabilities and products to our portfolio.
This hub is more than just a production facility; it embodies our commitment to Vision 2030’s objectives of localisation, innovation and economic development. By fostering a capable local manufacturing ecosystem, we are contributing to Saudi Arabia’s energy diversification, efficiency and sustainability goals.

Can you give us an overview of the new products Emerson is introducing in Saudi Arabia?
Emerson’s leadership envisions further growth in the process automation domain. In addition to the acquisitions that have enhanced our measurement and control valve offerings, we have made significant investments in software, including our recently completed acquisition of industrial software company AspenTech. This positions us as the preferred partner for comprehensive automation solutions, ranging from field-level measurement and control valves to advanced cloud-based systems and optimisation software for industrial operations.
As part of delivering these capabilities, we are expanding our portfolio in Saudi Arabia with products that directly support the growth requirements of local industries. For example, in the final control products category, we are now capable of manufacturing flow control valves, and we aim to complete the range of our valve portfolio by adding isolation and pressure relief valves. In the control systems space, we are localising our flow computers product line, which will also be entirely manufactured in Saudi Arabia.
Another key addition to our offerings in the measurement technology space comes from our recent acquisition of Flexim, a leader in non-intrusive flow measurement. The localisation of these products supports the needs of the Saudi market and augments our capabilities in pressure and temperature measurement.

Will the products manufactured in Saudi Arabia be solely for the Saudi market, or will you export to other GCC countries?
The primary focus of our manufacturing is the domestic market, but we view Saudi Arabia as a manufacturing hub that can serve the broader GCC region. The rapidly growing demand in Saudi Arabia provides a dynamic environment to establish the foundation for future exports.
As demand has grown, we have significantly expanded our operations in Saudi Arabia, increasing our manufacturing footprint and growing our workforce. We are well-positioned to scale production and meet future needs.

What are the key challenges that the energy industry is facing today, and how is Emerson addressing them?
Saudi Arabia’s manufacturing capabilities are in a promising phase of development. We are actively learning and evolving, paving the way for continued growth and innovation. A significant focus area has been supply-chain efforts, especially moving value chains for categories such as valves and control systems into Saudi Arabia. Sourcing quality parts and maintaining high standards is crucial to meeting the requirements of our customers.
We are developing our supply chains and evaluating imported components to identify where local manufacturers can play a role. For example, we partnered with a Saudi foundry to produce valves that are 100% manufactured in Saudi Arabia.
In the control systems domain, we are working with suppliers to fabricate industrial cabinets and enclosures. We have several ongoing projects in many categories, including cables, terminals and accessories. These partnerships strengthen our supply chain and help enhance domestic industry standards, benefiting the broader market.

Why did Emerson choose SPARK for its new facility, and what role do you see it playing in the company’s future projects?
The SPARK development aligns perfectly with our long-term vision for localisation and innovation in Saudi Arabia. Emerson’s manufacturing facility at SPARK offers outstanding logistics capabilities and proximity to major infrastructure, making it an ideal location.
In addition to having an advantageous location, SPARK is designed as a city with residential areas, schools and other amenities that provide an attractive living and working environment for our employees. The integration of industrial and residential spaces, combined with logistics advantages, offers a unique value proposition and supports our vision of making Saudi Arabia a global manufacturing hub for Emerson within the GCC.

What makes the Saudi market so competitive, and how does Emerson stand out?
Saudi Arabia is highly competitive due to its geopolitical stability, which is based on continuous progress towards meeting its commitments, robust economic growth, strong base demand and clear, actionable plans for the future.
We operate across multiple segments, and our extensive portfolio ensures Emerson products are used in nearly every plant. Besides our diverse portfolio, what sets us apart is our strong customer relationships. Our local presence enables us to deeply understand industry challenges and develop effective solutions with expertise.

With Saudi Arabia planning to increase its investment in R&D in 2025, how do you see the country’s global position evolving and how is Emerson adapting to that?
As Saudi Arabia transitions from services to manufacturing and increases its R&D investments, opportunities will emerge to further localise our products. Our collaboration centre at Dhahran Techno Valley will play a central role in this, as it will allow Emerson’s subject matter experts to work closely with local industries and universities to develop pilots. This is pivotal to ensuring that our solutions address the market’s challenges.
Globally, Emerson is identifying innovative startups and technologies that can enhance our portfolio. While we haven’t yet partnered with domestic startups, we are actively monitoring the ecosystem and already collaborate with international startups in Saudi Arabia.

What key factors do you consider when exploring partnerships with Saudi companies?
We focus on factors that include the alignment of the company’s products with the needs of the Saudi market and how the technology can add to Emerson’s existing portfolio strategy. The potential for scalability and manufacturing products locally are other important elements.

How do you see Emerson’s role evolving in Saudi Arabia’s rapidly growing mining sector?
Mining in Saudi Arabia is on a strong growth trajectory, and Emerson is well-positioned to support the development of the sector. Leveraging our experience in Australia, Chile, Morocco and South Africa, we can effectively understand challenges and do more than just supply products. We can act as trusted advisers and help optimise operations.
Our extensive expertise allows us to effectively tackle specific production and sustainability goals. Furthermore, our solutions for emission reduction and energy optimisation will play a crucial role in supporting Saudi Arabia’s mining sector in its pursuit of sustainability and net-zero emissions.

How do you envision Emerson’s growth in Saudi Arabia beyond 2030?
Looking beyond 2030, Emerson’s growth in Saudi Arabia will align closely with the country’s continued industrial development. Our leadership is fully committed to Vision 2030. In October 2024, during the inauguration of our SPARK manufacturing hub, Emerson’s CEO, board of directors and executive leadership team witnessed firsthand the scale of the investments under Vision 2030 and their impact, particularly in localising manufacturing operations.
From a global perspective, Saudi Arabia will continue to be a critical hub for Emerson. We anticipate that the country will become a manufacturing hub for countries in the GCC and Africa. What we are building is not just about manufacturing locally – it’s about exporting the knowledge, skills and expertise we are developing in Saudi Arabia to other regions. This will position Emerson as a leader well beyond 2030, contributing to the region’s economic and industrial success.

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