Anchor sector
Energy & renewables
The world's largest oil exporter is now building one of the world's largest solar, wind and green-hydrogen portfolios, with major grid and storage investment.
Country Profile — Arab-America International Expo 2027
Verified profileKingdom of Saudi Arabia
Where heritage meets the future.
The largest economy in the Middle East and the engine of one of the most ambitious national transformations in modern history.
Country at a glance
- GDP
- ≈ $1.10 trillion (nominal)
- Population
- ≈ 34.1 million
- Currency
- Saudi Riyal (SAR), pegged to USD
- Capital
- Riyadh
- Economic growth
- ≈ 1.3% real GDP growth; ≈ 4.3% non-oil growth
Statistics year: 2024 (latest full-year data)
Overview
A nation building the next century
Saudi Arabia sits at the crossroads of three continents, connecting the Red Sea and the Arabian Gulf, and anchoring the Arab world's largest economy. It is the biggest market in the Gulf, the largest exporter of crude oil, and a founding member of the G20.
Under Vision 2030 the Kingdom is diversifying at extraordinary speed — expanding manufacturing, logistics, tourism, technology, entertainment, healthcare and renewable energy, and opening its market to international partners, investors and suppliers.
For American companies, Saudi Arabia is both a high-value export destination and a gateway to the wider Gulf and MENA region of more than 400 million consumers.
- Capital
- Riyadh
- Population
- ~34 million
- Language
- Arabic (English widely used in business)
- Currency
- Saudi Riyal (SAR), pegged to USD
- Land area
- 2.15 million km²
- Major cities
- Riyadh, Jeddah, Dammam, Makkah, Madinah, NEOM
- Time zone
- GMT +3
- Membership
- G20, GCC, OPEC, WTO, Arab League
Economy
Scale, stability and sovereign capital
The Kingdom combines the region's deepest capital markets with a sovereign investment program deploying hundreds of billions of dollars into new industries.
$0B+
GDP (nominal)
Largest economy in MENA
$0B+
Sovereign fund assets (PIF)
Targeting $2T by 2030
0%
Population under 35
A young, digital-first consumer base
$0B
Giga-project pipeline
Announced project value
Energy & petrochemicalsGlobal scale, moving downstream
Construction & infrastructureGiga-projects and urban expansion
Manufacturing & industryLocalization under Vision 2030
Logistics & transportRed Sea and Gulf corridors
Tourism & entertainmentFastest-growing new sector
Technology & digitalCloud, AI and fintech buildout
Priority sectors
Where opportunity is concentrated
These are the sectors where Saudi buyers, distributors and joint-venture partners are actively seeking international suppliers and technology.
Localization
Manufacturing & industry
Localization programs favor partners who manufacture, license or transfer technology inside the Kingdom — from automotive to food processing.
Gateway
Logistics & supply chain
A national strategy to become a global logistics hub: new ports, rail, air cargo capacity and bonded industrial zones.
High growth
Technology & AI
Rapid enterprise cloud adoption, national AI programs, cybersecurity, smart cities and fintech licensing.
$1T+ pipeline
Real estate & giga-projects
NEOM, The Line, Qiddiya, Diriyah Gate, Red Sea Global and the Roshn housing program — building materials, systems and services at scale.
Riyadh HQ
Business & professional services
Regional headquarters incentives are pulling global firms into Riyadh, driving demand for consulting, legal, engineering and training services.
Vision 2030
A transformation with a timeline
Vision 2030 is not a slogan — it is a delivery program with measurable national targets across the economy, society and environment.
- 2016
Vision 2030 launched
A national blueprint to diversify beyond oil, grow the private sector and open the country to the world.
- 2019
Tourist visas open
The Kingdom opens to international leisure visitors for the first time, launching a new sector from scratch.
- 2021
Regional HQ program
Incentives introduced for multinationals to base their Middle East headquarters in Riyadh.
- 2024
Industrial acceleration
Thousands of new factories licensed as localization and supply-chain resilience become national priorities.
- 2027
Arab-America International Expo
Saudi companies meet American partners in Washington, D.C. — trade, investment, tourism and technology in one hall.
- 2030
Target horizon
Non-oil GDP share, foreign investment, tourism arrivals and renewable capacity targets come due.
Major development projects
The build-out, project by project
A pipeline of national projects creating direct demand for equipment, building systems, technology and professional services.
NEOM & The Line
A new region in the northwest with a linear city, industrial port at Oxagon and a mountain tourism destination at Trojena.
Qiddiya
An entertainment, sports and culture city outside Riyadh with theme parks, arenas and motorsport venues.
Diriyah Gate
Restoration of the Kingdom's founding city into a mixed-use cultural district built in traditional Najdi style.
Red Sea Global
Regenerative luxury tourism across islands and coastline, powered largely by renewable energy.
Roshn & housing programs
National-scale residential communities driving demand for materials, MEP systems and smart-home technology.
Rail, ports & logistics corridors
Land-bridge rail, port expansion and bonded logistics zones connecting the Red Sea to the Arabian Gulf.
US – Saudi trade
One of America's strongest Arab-world partnerships
The United States and Saudi Arabia maintain deep commercial ties across energy, defense, aviation, healthcare, technology and consumer goods — with room to grow in mid-market and SME trade.
Top exports to the world
Crude oil & refined products
Petrochemicals & plastics
Fertilizers
Aluminum & metals
Dates & agri-products
Top imports
Machinery & equipment
Vehicles & transport
Medical & pharmaceutical
Electronics & IT
Food & beverage
Leading products to the United States
- Crude oil & refined fuels
- Petrochemicals & polymers
- Fertilizers & urea
- Aluminum billets & sheet
- Dates, seafood & specialty foods
Leading products from the United States
- Aircraft, parts & aviation services
- Industrial machinery & automation
- Medical devices & pharmaceuticals
- Vehicles & heavy equipment
- Software, cloud & cybersecurity
- Packaged food & agricultural goods
- Riyal pegged to the US dollar — currency stability for long-term contracts
- No personal income tax and competitive corporate incentives in special economic zones
- 100% foreign ownership permitted in most sectors
- English is the working language of most large Saudi enterprises
Bilateral goods trade — 2024
Trade with the United States
Verified full-year bilateral merchandise trade between Saudi Arabia and the United States, reported from Saudi Arabia's perspective.
Total U.S. goods trade
$26.1B
2024
Exports to the United States
$12.9B
2024
Imports from the United States
$13.2B
2024
Trade balance
$300.0M
Deficit for Saudi Arabia
2024
Exports vs. imports — 2024
Saudi Arabia exports to the United States$12.9B
Saudi Arabia imports from the United States$13.2B
Exports to the US Imports from the US
Saudi Arabia is the United States' largest goods trading partner in the Gulf, with two-way trade close to balance: American aerospace, machinery and vehicle exports are matched by Saudi energy, chemical and metals shipments. Vision 2030 localization and giga-project procurement continue to expand demand for US capital goods and services.
Scope of these figures
These figures represent merchandise trade only and do not include services.
Data source
- U.S. Census Bureau, Foreign Trade Division — country trade data (full year 2024)
- Office of the United States Trade Representative — country trade fact sheets
Statistical year: 2024
Leading exports to the United States
- Crude petroleum
- Refined petroleum products
- Organic chemicals
- Fertilizers
- Plastics and resins
- Aluminium and articles thereof
- Industrial machinery components
Leading imports from the United States
- Aircraft, parts and aerospace equipment
- Vehicles and automotive parts
- Industrial and construction machinery
- Electrical and electronic equipment
- Medical and optical instruments
- Pharmaceuticals
- Agricultural products
Culture & tourism
A destination the world is discovering
From UNESCO desert cities to Red Sea reefs and mountain highlands, the Kingdom is investing heavily in hospitality, aviation and destination development.
Madinah Province
AlUla
Hegra's Nabataean tombs carved into sandstone — a UNESCO World Heritage site and flagship cultural destination.
Riyadh
Diriyah
The mud-brick birthplace of the Saudi state, being restored as a global cultural and hospitality district.
Makkah Province
Historic Jeddah
Al-Balad's coral-stone merchant houses and wooden roshan balconies, gateway to the Red Sea.
Tabuk & Red Sea coast
The Red Sea
Untouched islands, reefs and luxury regenerative-tourism resorts on a 1,800 km coastline.
Western region
Makkah & Madinah
The two holy cities, hosting tens of millions of pilgrims annually and driving vast hospitality demand.
Asir
Asir Highlands
Cool green mountains, terraced villages and heritage architecture above the Red Sea escarpment.
Eastern Province
Al-Ahsa Oasis
The world's largest self-contained oasis — millions of date palms, springs and UNESCO heritage.
Makkah Province
Taif
The city of roses — mountain orchards and the fragrance industry built around damask rose harvests.
Hail
Hail & the Nefud
Red dunes, sandstone cliffs and ancient rock art at the edge of the Great Nefud desert.
Why invest
The case for Saudi Arabia
Market size, sovereign capital, and a government mandate to partner with international companies.
01
The region's largest market
34 million consumers with high purchasing power, and duty-free access across the GCC customs union.
02
Sovereign capital at scale
PIF and its portfolio companies co-invest with foreign partners rather than competing against them.
03
Strategic geography
Between Europe, Africa and Asia, with Red Sea and Gulf ports on both sides of the peninsula.
04
Young, connected demand
One of the world's highest rates of smartphone and social-media penetration among a majority-young population.
05
Open ownership rules
Full foreign ownership in most sectors, with fast-track licensing for qualified investors.
06
Stability and predictability
A dollar-pegged currency, deep foreign reserves and a published national delivery plan through 2030.
At the Expo
Saudi Arabia at AAIX 2027
The Saudi pavilion in Washington, D.C. will bring manufacturers, exporters, investment authorities, tourism bodies and technology firms into direct contact with American buyers and partners.
- A national pavilion showcasing Saudi manufacturers, exporters and service providers
- Structured B2B matchmaking with pre-qualified American buyers and distributors
- Investment and free-zone briefings for companies planning a Saudi entry
- Tourism and hospitality showcase for US travel trade and media
- Technology and innovation stage sessions with Saudi and American founders
World heritage
UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Saudi Arabia
Sites inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List, a core part of the country's cultural and tourism offer.
Historic Jeddah (Al-Balad)
The Red Sea port's coral-stone merchant houses and the historic gateway to Makkah.
At-Turaif District in Diriyah
The mud-brick birthplace of the first Saudi state, now a major cultural district.
Hegra Archaeological Site (Al-Hijr / Madain Salih)
Monumental Nabataean tombs carved into sandstone outcrops near AlUla.
Rock Art in the Hail Region
Thousands of years of petroglyphs at Jubbah and Shuwaymis.
Al-Ahsa Oasis
The largest oasis in the world, with millions of date palms and historic irrigation.
Ḥimā Cultural Area
Ancient wells and one of the largest rock-art complexes on the Arabian Peninsula.
Business opportunities
Opportunities for Arab and American companies
How companies from different markets can engage with Saudi Arabia through the Expo.
For American companies
Supply technology, equipment and services to giga-projects, energy transition and industrial localisation programmes, or license and manufacture inside the Kingdom.
For Arab companies
Joint ventures in construction, logistics, food and retail serving the largest consumer market in the Gulf.
For international investors
PIF co-investment, giga-project concessions, tourism assets and renewable-energy IPPs at very large ticket sizes.
Represent Saudi Arabia at Arab-America International Expo 2027
Present your country's economy, industries, products, investment opportunities, tourism destinations and culture to the American and North American markets.
Reserve a booth in the Saudi pavilion, or register as an American buyer to meet Saudi suppliers, investors and partners face to face.
Sources & data
- Saudi General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT)
- Saudi Ministry of Investment (MISA)
- Public Investment Fund (PIF) annual disclosures
- Vision 2030 official program reports
- World Bank & IMF country data
- U.S. Census Bureau / USTR trade statistics
Last updated: August 2026