Your account has been succesfully created.

Saudi Arabia
MbS-backed defence industry putting up resistance to Aramco's self-defence plans

Reading time 3 min

Satellite image showing the damage sustained by Aramco's Ras Tanura refinery following an Iranian drone attack on 2 March 2026.
Satellite image showing the damage sustained by Aramco's Ras Tanura refinery following an Iranian drone attack on 2 March 2026. © Vantor/AFP

GAMI and SAMI, the bodies set up by Mohammed bin Salman to equip Saudi Arabia's defence forces, are under increasing internal pressure. Weakened by Iranian attacks, the Saudi national oil company Aramco is looking to set up its own anti-drone unit, having already developed in-house programmes in the naval and secure telecoms sectors.

Read also

Sign up for real-time alerts and be notified of new editions!  

Once registered, you will be notified by a short message on your computer or mobile phone as soon as a new edition of our publication or an alert is published. Stay informed anytime, anywhere!