When Saudi-Russian economic cooperation is mentioned, oil and coordination within the OPEC+ alliance usually come to mind. But the scope of this cooperation is beginning to expand into sectors that have not previously featured prominently, from smart cities and data centers to cybersecurity and drones.

What happened?

An article published by Asharq Al-Awsat reports that economic and trade ties between the two countries are moving beyond energy into advanced industries, digital technologies, smart infrastructure, and cybersecurity, alongside the goals of Vision 2030 and Russian companies’ efforts to strengthen their presence in the Saudi market. Historically, the relationship has been built around energy, major government projects, and defense industries.

A key milestone in this direction was the first edition of Innoprom Saudi Arabia, hosted in Riyadh in February 2026. It brought together 38 Russian companies from 15 regions in a national pavilion organized by the Russian Export Center under the Made in Russia brand.

The exhibition saw more than 250 business meetings over three days. Participants said that 86% aligned with their business goals, while the potential value of the contracts discussed was around 8.7 billion rubles. Negotiations are still underway to turn these opportunities into agreements and actual projects.

What is Innoprom? And what is the Made in Russia program?

Innoprom is an international industrial exhibition originally held annually in the Russian city of Yekaterinburg. In recent years, it has expanded to include editions in other markets, most recently in Saudi Arabia.

The Made in Russia program, run by the Russian Export Center, helps Russian companies obtain voluntary conformity certificates, take part in international exhibitions and trade missions, connect with potential buyers, and follow up on negotiations after events conclude.

What are the new sectors?

Discussions focused on several areas, including:

Smart cities and urban infrastructure: including urban infrastructure equipment and technologies for automating the measurement of resource consumption, such as electricity and water.

Modular data centers: data centers manufactured as ready-made units that can be installed quickly and expanded gradually as needed.

Cybersecurity: particularly the protection of industrial systems from cyberattacks.

Industry and engineering: including industrial engineering, measurement devices, composite materials, and construction equipment.

Drones and information technology: areas seeing growing demand in major projects.

According to the article, the needs of the Saudi market align with these areas, given the major industrial, urban, and digital projects underway, as well as efforts to improve resource efficiency and develop infrastructure.

What does it take to succeed in the Saudi market?

The article notes that entering the Saudi market involves more than simply selling products. It requires:

Integrating new solutions with existing systems.

Providing maintenance and technical support.

Meeting project timelines.

Transferring expertise and training local workers.

Russian companies therefore need business models that keep pace with project delivery, provide long-term services, and go beyond simply supplying equipment.

What comes next?

The Made in Russia International Export Forum will be held on November 16, 2026, at the Russia National Center in Moscow, with companies and representatives from overseas markets taking part. It will focus on information technology, robotics, medical technologies, and industrial equipment. The forum aims to build on discussions that began at the Riyadh exhibition, particularly in areas requiring technical studies and operational trials before contracts are signed and projects implemented.

In the world of major procurement, experts talk about the concept of “total cost of ownership”: looking not only at the purchase price, but also at everything that follows, including maintenance, operation, spare parts, and training over the lifetime of the equipment or system. These costs can exceed the purchase price itself. That is why the question in major projects is no longer: Who sells for less? It is: Who is still there after delivery? And who transfers expertise to local workers? This may be the real test for any new partnership in the Saudi market, regardless of its origin.

Note: This article is intended to explain and simplify the news in an accessible, reader-friendly way. The information presented is drawn from published news sources and has been adapted and simplified; it does not represent an official position or statement by any organization. The information may be updated after publication, so readers are advised to consult official sources for full details.