ULAQ has signed a strategic Cooperation Agreement with SAMI Autonomous on the sidelines of the World Defense Show 2026 in Riyadh. The agreement represents an important step toward strengthening advanced industrial partnerships and supporting the development of unmanned maritime capabilities in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Through this collaboration, the two parties aim to establish an integrated national ecosystem for unmanned and autonomous maritime systems. The partnership focuses on technology transfer, joint development, local manufacturing, maintenance, and technical support, helping build sustainable capabilities within the Saudi defense and maritime sectors.
The ULAQ and SAMI Autonomous Cooperation Agreement also supports the Kingdom’s broader objectives of increasing local content, developing sovereign technologies, and advancing industrial transformation in line with Saudi Vision 2030.
The signing of the agreement at the World Defense Show 2026 reflects the growing importance of international and national partnerships in developing advanced defense technologies.
As defense and security requirements continue to evolve, unmanned and autonomous maritime systems are becoming increasingly important for surveillance, operational support, maritime security, and future mission readiness.
The cooperation between ULAQ and SAMI Autonomous brings together technological experience, industrial capabilities, and a shared commitment to developing maritime solutions within Saudi Arabia.
Rather than focusing only on the supply of systems, the agreement establishes a broader framework covering the development, production, operation, and long-term support of unmanned maritime technologies.
A central objective of the agreement is to develop an integrated national ecosystem for unmanned and autonomous maritime systems.
This ecosystem is expected to cover several important areas:
By addressing the complete lifecycle of unmanned maritime systems, the partnership can contribute to creating a stronger and more sustainable industrial foundation within the Kingdom.
The agreement also provides an opportunity to support local expertise, strengthen supply chains, and develop capabilities that can serve future defense and security requirements.
Advanced technology transfer is one of the main pillars of the ULAQ and SAMI Autonomous Cooperation Agreement.
The cooperation is intended to support the transfer of technical knowledge required to design, manufacture, operate, and maintain unmanned maritime systems locally. This approach goes beyond importing finished products by contributing to the development of domestic knowledge and engineering expertise.
Joint development will also allow both parties to work together on maritime systems designed around the operational requirements of the Kingdom.
Through co-development, technical teams can collaborate across multiple stages, including:
The parties can cooperate on designing unmanned maritime platforms and integrating the technologies required for autonomous or remotely controlled operations.
Joint engineering activities can support the development of systems that respond to current and future maritime defense and security needs.
Locally developed systems can undergo technical testing and evaluation to ensure their reliability, performance, and suitability for operational requirements.
This collaborative model can help build long-term technical capabilities while supporting the creation of locally developed maritime solutions.
The agreement includes the manufacturing and production of unmanned maritime systems within the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Local production is an important part of building sustainable defense capabilities. It can support the development of national manufacturing expertise, strengthen local supply chains, and increase the participation of Saudi companies and professionals in advanced industrial projects.
Producing unmanned maritime systems within the Kingdom can also contribute to improving control over system development, maintenance, upgrades, and lifecycle support.
The partnership therefore represents more than a commercial agreement. It creates a framework for developing industrial and technical capabilities that can grow alongside the Kingdom’s future maritime requirements.
The scope of cooperation also covers maintenance and technical support services for unmanned and autonomous maritime systems.
Effective maintenance is essential for ensuring that advanced maritime platforms remain operational, reliable, and ready for deployment. Developing these services locally can support faster technical response, improve system availability, and strengthen long-term operational sustainability.
Local maintenance capabilities may also contribute to:
By including maintenance and support within the cooperation framework, ULAQ and SAMI Autonomous are addressing the full lifecycle of the systems rather than focusing only on initial production.
The ULAQ and SAMI Autonomous Cooperation Agreement aligns with the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030, particularly those related to industrial development, technology localization, and increasing local content.
Developing unmanned maritime systems within Saudi Arabia can contribute to strengthening national defense industries and supporting the Kingdom’s transition toward a more knowledge-based and technology-driven economy.
The agreement is also expected to create opportunities for knowledge transfer, workforce development, local supplier participation, and advanced engineering activities.
These elements are important for building sustainable sovereign capabilities and supporting the continued transformation of the Saudi defense and maritime industries.
Unmanned maritime systems can play an important role in supporting future defense and security operations.
They can provide flexible platforms for maritime monitoring, surveillance, operational support, infrastructure protection, and other security-related missions.
By developing these systems locally, the Kingdom can strengthen its ability to respond to evolving maritime requirements while maintaining greater control over critical technologies and technical support.
The cooperation between ULAQ and SAMI Autonomous is therefore expected to support future readiness across the defense and security sectors while contributing to the development of advanced national maritime capabilities.
The agreement reflects the mutual commitment of ULAQ and SAMI Autonomous to building sustainable industrial and technological capabilities in Saudi Arabia.
Its focus on technology transfer, joint development, local production, maintenance, and technical support creates a comprehensive foundation for long-term cooperation.
As the Kingdom continues to invest in defense localization and advanced maritime technologies, partnerships of this nature can support the development of national expertise, increase local content, and strengthen the competitiveness of Saudi Arabia’s defense and maritime industries.
The Cooperation Agreement between ULAQ and SAMI Autonomous marks a strategic step in the development of unmanned maritime systems within Saudi Arabia.
By combining technology transfer, co-development, local manufacturing, and technical support, the partnership aims to create an integrated national ecosystem capable of supporting future defense and security requirements.
The agreement also reinforces both parties’ commitment to sustainable capability development, industrial localization, and the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030.
It is a strategic cooperation agreement focused on developing, manufacturing, maintaining, and supporting unmanned and autonomous maritime systems within Saudi Arabia.
The agreement covers technology transfer, joint system development, local production, manufacturing, maintenance, and technical support services.
It supports Saudi Vision 2030 by contributing to defense localization, increasing local content, developing national technical expertise, and strengthening advanced industrial capabilities within the Kingdom.