Saudi Arabia was the second-largest arms importer in the world from 2019 to 2023, accounting for 8.4% of all imports, according to recent data from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute’s (SIPRI).
Saudi arms imports during this four-year period fell 28% in comparison to the period from 2014 to 2018, but the kingdom’s imports had reached record levels in those years.
The United States was the largest provider of weapons to Saudi Arabia, accounting for 75% of Saudi Arabia’s imports.
The Kingdom is seeking to use a concerted local content drive to minimize imports and create value within the Kingdom in the defense space.
Recently, Saudi Arabia hosted the World Defense Show in Riyadh on February 8-12, organized by Saudi Arabia’s General Authority for Military Industries.
Gulf states and Egypt accounted for more than 25% of global arms sales in the past four years, according to the report from SIPRI, released on Monday.
SIPRI’s quadrennial report on international arms transfers details the import and export of weapons around the world between 2019 and 2023.
India was the largest importer with a 9.8% global market share. Qatar was third with 7.6%.
[Click here to read more from a report in Al Monitor]
