Saudi Arabia should invest in domestically developed military technology.

Saudi Arabia is a very wealthy country, rooted in an estimated $1.389 trillion nominal GDP, anchored primarily by massive petroleum reserves.

The country also has a very rich tourism sector that draws over 120 million visitors annually. 

This is supported by the country's landmark sustainable luxury developments like Diriyah and the Red Sea unique natural and heritage sites. [1, 2]

Moreso, the country has a steady stream of pilgrims visiting the religious sites in Mecca and Medina for Umrah and Hajj, not forgetting its massive investment in the events and entertainment sector.

However, with all the kingdom's wealth, it is appalling that the country almost entirely depends on foreign aid for its security, science and technology.

Sometimes I wonder, why the Saudis fail to invest in domestically developed mega weapons technology! 

Did the mental health doctors in their country advise that the Saudi population is not clever enough to learn how to develop their own technology?

Local military production firms in the kingdom only produce small arms rounds, medium-calibre rounds, and large-calibre artillery and tank shells. 

They also asssemble and build light armored vehicles, military transporters, and basic unmanned aerial systems.

However, even this, is done in partnership with foreign countries. [1]

The Saudis do not produce mega weapons like missiles, defense systems, sub Marines and weapons of the kind.

It is laughable that such a country is also seeking military dominance in the Middle East region. 

In my opinion, the Saudis should step back a bit from their delusions of wanting to dominate the Arab world.

Dominance comes with hard work. That is: domestically grown technological advancements and commendable scientific contributions to the global science questions. 

The wealthy kingdom is going on and about, making military alliances with countries it deems powerful enough to provide it with the much needed security for its wealthy territory.

But these alliances have also proven to be overrated in their role to protect member states. 

Saudi Arabia has for long been an ally of the United States of America and put all its security matters in the hands of the U.S.A. 

Not so long ago, during the Israel-U.S war on Iran, the Saudis themselves witnessed how not so useful these alliances can be. 

The mighty U.S.A could do little when Iran began to burn its oil refineries. 

And now it has entered a new alliance, with Pakistan and Turkey dubbed: The Mecca Pact.

The Saudis completely fail to realise that alliances help only one who can help herself. 

Look at Iran with its ballistic program for example, how would it survive the treacherous plans of the mighty U.S.A and Israel without this program? 

It is alleged that China and Russia are assisting Iran in one way or another, but that assistance wouldn't help much if the Iranians did not know how to put up a fight themselves. 

A case in point is Bashar Al Asaad who was first saved by his alliance with Iran and Russia back in 2013.

In 2013, Bashar al-Assad's regime was on the verge of collapse due to major rebel advances. He was saved primarily through massive military and financial intervention by Iran, boots on the ground from Hezbollah, and vital diplomatic and tactical shielding by Russia.

But the limits of these alliances were witnessed when eleven years later, the Al Sharaa group eventually captured Damascus in just a week. 

The rapid collapse of Bashar al-Assad's regime in December 2024 was heavily driven by the demoralized state of the Syrian Arab Army, which had come to rely completely on foreign proxies and external powers rather than maintaining a cohesive, functional national military.

The offensive rolled forward like an avalanche, collapsing regime defenses in major cities within days before forces completely withdrew and Assad fled.

Russia was heavily preoccupied with its war in Ukraine, while Israeli strikes severely degraded Hezbollah and Iranian capabilities in Syria and Lebanon, leaving no external force to rescue the regime. [1, 2]

Rather than invest billions of dollars in paying other countries for their domestic security, the Saudis should think of investing in a home grown security system and shift away from begging. 

As the case was with Syria's Asaad in 2024, there may come a time when Saudi Arabia's allies can not get genuinely lend a hand! When for example, Turkey and  Pakistan are concurrently preoccupied with  domestic wars of their own. Who then can show up for Saudi Arabia's defense in case it faces aggression at the same time when its allies are engaged in their own wars back home?

Rather than continously boost America's economy by importing billions of ammunitions annually, Saudi Arabia should invest in building its own defence capabilities.

The kingdom has all it takes. 

Rather than collaborating with the Americans against Iran, the Saudi should copy from Iran's book instead.

The Saudis should invest in relevant education for their population, empower them so that they can use their acquired knowledge to build a mostly self reliant science and technology industry. 

Until that happens, Saudi Arabia should not even dream of becoming a regional power. 

Furthermore, instead of using the religious divide(Shia-Sunni) among Muslims to drive their selfish agendas, the Saudis may use religion in a peaceful way and use it to gain their much desired dominance. 

Rather than desperately try to dominate militarily when they themselves rely on others for their domestic security, the Saudis should exploit the fact that they are currently in charge of Islam's capital cities that is: Mecca and Medina. 

How about transforming Saudi Arabia into a Vatican-like state? Neutral and independent of regional politics? 

I believe that in addition to its tremendous oil wealth, projecting itself as the spiritual father of all muslims across the globe would put Saudi Arabia in a much better position than its laughable pursuit of political and military dominance.