Riyadh – 28 December 2020: Saudi Arabian Military Industries (SAMI), a wholly owned subsidiary of the Public Investment Fund (PIF), announced that it has acquired Advanced Electronics Company (AEC) as part of the largest military industries deal ever concluded in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The purchase is expected to complete in the first quarter of 2021 following regulatory approvals. As a result, AEC will become a 100% Saudi-owned company.

The acquisition was announced during a ceremony organized by SAMI in the presence of the members of SAMI’s and AEC’s Board of Directors, and senior officials from the Ministry of Defense, General Authority for Military Industries (GAMI), PIF, BAE Systems Saudi Arabia, Saudi Arabian Airlines (SAUDIA), and other stakeholders.

Commenting on the deal, H.E. Ahmed Al-Khateeb, Chairman of SAMI, said: “This deal strengthens SAMI’s presence in the strategically important defense industries market and supports its plans to transfer and localize the military industries. The acquisition will also enhance AEC’s opportunities to expand and compete in its field.” H.E. Al-Khateeb affirmed the support of H.R.H. the Minister of Defense for the transfer and localization of military industries as a key part of the Kingdom's Vision 2030. “This achievement also supports PIF’s efforts through SAMI in localizing cutting-edge technology and knowledge, as well as building strategic economic partnerships.”

H.E. Al-Khateeb added, “Considered the ‘crown jewel’ of Saudi Arabia’s military industries and a proud accomplishment for its citizens, AEC will bring about transformative change in the Kingdom’s defense sector by enhancing the industry’s competencies and advancing innovation. With state-of-the-art products, innovative technologies, several decades of experience, and the collective efforts of both SAMI and AEC, the acquisition will shape the future of the domestic defense ecosystem and make long-lasting contributions to the national economy for the upcoming years, through skills development, employment generation, and exports.”

Eng. Walid Abukhaled, CEO of SAMI, thanked the Public Investment Fund (PIF) for its unlimited support and efforts that contributed to the success of the acquisition. He asserted that the deal would serve to enhance the local defense sector, and support and realize the localization rates required by the local content of the military industries.

AEC is considered a major facilitator of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 thanks to its 32-year experience in the military industries market and the leading role it plays in Defense and Aerospace and the development of security local systems. In addition to facilitating the transfer of technology and enhancing local production, the acquisition will enable SAMI to consolidate its defense electronics sector.

SAMI’s acquisition of AEC will support its strategic plan, which aims to expand its business and enter the progressive Defense Electronics sector. The acquisition will also contribute to the implementation of SAMI’s plans to transfer technologies and localize domestic military industries, as well as to strengthen the Saudi defense ecosystem, in line with the directives of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030.

Abdulaziz Al-Duailej, CEO of AEC, said: “SAMI’s acquisition of AEC stock will help us reach our goals and strategic plans for the next five years. It also places us under the umbrella of the Public Investment Fund (PIF), the KSA’s sovereign wealth fund, which constitutes a milestone for the company and fills us with pride as directors and employees.”

He added: “This achievement was realized thanks to the commitment, experience and concerted efforts of all the employees in both companies. The deal will provide AEC with the opportunity to further strengthen its position in the military industries market and explore new horizons in advanced technologies in the Kingdom and beyond, as well as support the continuous development of the capacities of national cadres.”

AEC has played since 1988 a pioneering role in the fields of modern electronics, manufacturing, system integration, and repair and maintenance services, thereby becoming a major regional player renowned for innovation. Around 85% of the company’s employees are Saudi nationals, including more than 300 of its male and female engineers. AEC also has over 100 strategic partners and has successfully completed more than 1,000 projects. Furthermore, the company has witnessed steady growth in sales in recent years. In 2019, net sales reached SAR 2.32 billion – up from SAR 2.07 billion in 2018 and SAR 1.92 billion in 2017.

Since its inception in mid-2017 by the Public Investment Fund (PIF), SAMI has been leading Saudi Arabia’s efforts in developing self-sufficient defense capabilities through its fast-growing portfolio of military products and services, spanning across its business ‎divisions, namely Aeronautics, Land Systems, Weapons and Missiles, Defense Electronics, and Emerging Technologies.

Riyadh, December 22, 2020: Advanced Electronics Company (AEC), one of the national leaders in the field of electronics and technology, participated as a diamond sponsor in the “Industry Ladies Conference2020” conference, which is considered an exceptional platform that brings together officials, experts, specialists and stakeholders in the industrial sector. The two-day event was held from December 21-22 under the patronage of His Excellency Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources Mr. Bandar bin Ibrahim Al-Khorayef, and in the presence of decision-makers from the public and private sectors and dignitaries including heads and directors of establishments and industrial companies in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

AEC’s participation in and the sponsorship of the conference comes as part of its responsibility and role as an active and reliable partner in Saudi Arabia’s thriving industrial sector. The company’s support to the event also stems from its commitment to emphasize the importance of the conference as a promising opportunity to achieve integration between industry enablers in the government sector and industrial establishments in the private sector in order to empower women and stimulate their productive participation in the industrial sector.

“We, at Advanced Electronics Company, appreciate the commendable efforts by the Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources in promoting the role of women and empowering them, in line with the strategic objectives of the Kingdom's ambitious Vision 2030, by increasing their participation in the national economy and enabling them to assume leadership positions,” said Mr. Abdulaziz Al-Duailej, CEO of AEC, during the opening ceremony.

Mr. Al-Duailej confirmed AEC’s keen interest in the localization process, noting that the company is working to strengthen its reputation not only as a manufacturing and development leader, but also as a frontrunner in the empowerment of women by way of recognizing them as a strategic human capital asset. He highlighted that the company has made remarkable progress in advancing the empowerment of women since its appointment of the first woman in the executive office in 2017. As a result, the current number of female employees working in various manufacturing jobs at AEC stands at approximately 221.

Eng. Abdullah Al-Gadi, Executive Vice President for Shared Services and Corporate Affairs at AEC, was invited to deliver a presentation, entitled “Best practices and experiences in supporting and empowering women industrially”, at the conference. Eng. Al-Gadi shed light on the company's role in preparing and establishing national cadres through investment in human capital. He also reviewed the company's efforts to empower women in the industrial sector through their key contribution in the manufacture of smart digital meters and high-tech military products, as well as the production and testing of state-of-the-art systems such as laser optics, advanced screens and optoelectronics devices.

Al-Gadi highlighted that AEC has signed strategic partnerships to support female students during their university studies. The company signed a strategic collaboration agreement with Princess Nourah University to offer 18 female students scholarships to complete their postgraduate studies at the university in cooperation with Dublin University. The company has also developed many training programs, including the SHE program, which attracted 25 female employees in its first phase, and work is underway to establish successive units to continue training.

The “Industry Ladies Conference 2020” conference is a unique opportunity for industrialists and interested people to discuss ways of empowering women industrially and enhancing their vital role in developing national industries and their contribution to achieving comprehensive and sustainable industrial development.

It is worth noting that AEC, which was established in 1988, is distinguished by its four main sectors, including defence and aerospace, Information and Communications Technology as well as energy and security. The company currently employs more than 2,200 highly skilled male and female employees working in various departments and projects, of whom Saudis constitute more than 84%.

Riyadh, 8 December 2020: The Advanced Electronics Company (AEC) signed a partnership agreement with the Charity Committee for Orphans Care (Ensan) and the National Environment Recycling Company (Tadweer) to support the 'Make an Impact: Sponsor an Orphan with Your Old Device' initiative. The agreement comes within AEC's social responsibility as an integral part of the local community and its commitment to contributing to the wellbeing of individuals, the environment, the society, and the economy.

This initiative serves several objectives supporting orphans and offering safe and eco-friendly solutions for disposing of toxic electronic waste to preserve the environment. It also creates job opportunities for Saudis, with employment priority for orphans, and implements new technologies for recycling the electronic and electrical waste in the Kingdom.

The agreement was signed at Ensan's headquarters by AEC Executive Vice President for Shared Services and Corporate Affairs Eng. Abdullah bin Khaled Al Gadi, Ensan General Manager Saleh bin Abdullah Al Youssef, and Tadweer Business Development Director Abdullah Al Masoud.

"This partnership comes within AEC's efforts to enhance its relations with the community and partners from different entities to promote a culture of social responsibility on a practical level, as well as its great interest in sustainability by engaging in humanitarian, social, and environmental initiatives that drive community development and environmental preservation," Al Gadi stated.

Under this initiative, AEC will collect electronic and electrical waste from all the company's facilities across the Kingdom and deliver it to Tadweer, which will recycle the waste and use recycling revenues to support and sponsor the humanitarian activities at Ensan.

The Advanced Electronics Company welcomed at its headquarters this afternoon the executive team of Schneider Electric Saudi Arabia, where the delegation included Mr. Mohamed Shaheen, CEO, and his accompanying delegation.

AEC welcomed the guests in this introductory visit to highlight both companies' services, solutions, and capabilities and serves an initial purpose to discuss aspects of cooperation in various fields. Within the visit program, the delegation toured the advanced electronics factory, and the joint team discussed future ways of cooperation and enhanced communication between the two companies.

Riyadh, October 20, 2020: Advanced Electronics Company (AEC) signed a cooperation agreement with the Children with Disability Association (DCA) to provide support to the charitable organization’s initiatives under its educational program Moubadarati. The agreement was signed by Mr. Abdulaziz bin Abdullah Al-Duailej, CEO of AEC, and Dr. Ahmad bin Abdulaziz Al-Tamimi, Executive Director of DCA.

The agreement forms part of AEC’s ongoing commitment to serving and developing the community in which it operates, thereby contributing to national prosperity. It seeks to strengthen the company’s partnerships with various government and private organizations in the Kingdom to create and sustain a better world for all by providing the necessary support for the advancement of the less fortunate in society and the care and rehabilitation of children with special needs. The agreement also aims to highlight the important role the private sector plays in developing an inclusive society and promoting a culture of social responsibility.

Commenting on the agreement, Mr. Abdulaziz bin Abdullah Al- Duailej, CEO of AEC, said: “We are delighted to sign this distinguished partnership agreement through which we will work with DCA to enable young people with disability to overcome their challenges and flourish in society. We aim to contribute through the educational program Moubadarati to make them strong and independent and integrate them into the community. This comes in recognition of the importance of education, which is considered today the best investment for the future generation on which the country relies tremendously. Together we will strive to provide the necessary support through this initiative to achieve the goals of AEC and DCA and to create a thriving inclusive society where rights of all sections are respected and ensured.”

For his part, Dr. Ahmad bin Abdulaziz Al-Tamimi, Executive Director of DCA, expressed his thanks and appreciation to AEC for supporting this initiative and stated: “Moubadarati program is one of the bridges of communication with distinguished business partners and companies, and it is characterized by an advanced concept of charitable work at the level of our beloved country. The program enables continuous cooperation between the association - which earned the trust of those benefiting from its services - and private-sector institutions to support its programs, thus contributing to the integration of efforts and the expansion of the development work circle.”

It is worth noting that the Moubadarati program is created by the association to enhance community participation for both individuals and companies. The program includes three categories, which are Moubadarati for Therapeutic Rehabilitation (therapeutic), Moubadarati Education (for educational care), and Moubadarati Specialization (comprehensive), and it contributes to providing educational, therapeutic and rehabilitative services to more than 4,000 boys and girls through a system of 11 centers spread across various regions of the Kingdom.

Advanced Electronics Company Presents Annual Award for Best Graduation Project at King Saud University for the 22nd Year in a Row.


CEO of the Advanced Electronics Company (AEC), Mr. Abdulaziz bin Abdullah Al Duailej honored the winners of the Best Graduation Project Award at King Saud University for 1441/1442 AH from the College of Computer and Information Sciences and the Department of Electrical Engineering. 

The ceremony took place in honor of the President of King Saud University, His Excellency Dr. Badran bin Abdulrahman Al Omar and in the attendance of Vice-Rector Dr. Abdullah bin Salman Al Salman, Vice-Rector for Projects Dr. Abdullah bin Mohammed Al Sugair, Vice-Rector for Educational and Academic Affairs Dr. Mohamed bin Saleh bin Numay, and Dean of the College of Computer and Information Sciences Dr. Salman bin Ali bin Wahaf. Sponsored by the company for the 22nd year in a row, the award ceremony took place on 1 October 2020 at Riyadh's headquarters.

A total of 12 distinguished projects from the College of Computer and Information Sciences and the Department of Electrical Engineering competed for the award, and they were showcased and reviewed by a joint jury between King Saud University and AEC. The project on developing nanowire silicon chips to reduce the cost of manufacturing solar cells by Talal Hamed Al Baqmi and Hazem Assem Al Ghanimi from the Department of Electrical Engineering won first place, while the project on the tool for teaching children Arabic calligraphy by Nassiba Mohammed Al Wuhaibi, Sara Abdulrahman Al Samari, Ghaydaa Nasser Al Ghanem, and Raghad Abdullah Al Amr from the College of Computer and Information Sciences won second place. Third place went to the project on applying augmented virtual reality for teaching children by Al Anoud Abdul Kareem Al Zakari, Lateefa Omar Al Saqabi, Nouf Ibrahim Al Dhoeb, Reem Abdulrahman Al Harthi, and Nora Ibrahim Al Hassan from the Department of Information Systems in the College of Computer and Information Sciences.

The Munset project for reciting the Holy Quran using AI voice techniques by Loujaine Al Khamis, Abeer Al Zuhair, Nouf Al Talha, Ghada Al Qubal, and Nora Al Rashed from the Department of Information Technology in the College of Computer and Information Sciences won the award for Best Idea, while the award for Best Student went to Rayan Al Suhaibani, Department of Information Systems in the College of Computer and Information Sciences, and Reem bin Ghannam, Department of Computer Science in the College of Computer and Information Sciences.

Commenting on this occasion, Al Omar stated: "In its 22nd year, the annual AEC Best Graduation Project Award is a strong incentive for students to research, innovate, design, and carry out distinguished projects in technical fields that benefit our nation. In turn, we appreciate the company's support and its patriotic efforts that are in the interest of our students."

For his part, Al Duailej noted: "The company has been presenting this award every year to motivate students to carry out research and applied projects that can be implemented in reality. The award, presented by the company for 22 years in a row, supports talented students in showing what Saudi students can achieve with the right support and encouragement. The competition seeks to encourage scientific and applied research that contributes to building a knowledge society and stimulates innovation and creativity."

Al Wahaf stated: "Its sustainability and continuity characterize the successful and solid national partnership between the College of Computer and Information Sciences and AEC. It is an important pillar in the localization of technology and the knowledge economy and linking the college's outputs with the job market in line with the Kingdom's Vision 2030."

AEC has supported the annual Best Graduation Project Award for the College of Computer and Information Sciences and the Department of Electrical Engineering in various specializations for 22 years in a row. This support has resulted in the production of several pioneering projects in real life with great success due to the company's continued support and its support of talented individuals.