Military Industries Corporation (Saudi Arabia)

Military Industries Corporation
Native name
 Arabic: المؤسسة العامة للصناعات الحربية‎‎
Government-owned corporation
Industry Defence
Founded 1953 (1953)
Headquarters Saudi Arabia
Key people
 Mohamed Al-Mady, President (since 2015)[1]
Products munitions, firearms, armored vehicle
Revenue SR2,729,921,000[2] (2013)
Subsidiaries Armored Vehicles & Heavy Equipment Factory[3]
Website mic.gov.sa

Military Industries Corporation (MIC) is a state-owned enterprise in Saudi Arabia. Based in Riyadh, it runs armament factories in the nation, and develops Saudi Arabia’s military base through research and development and technology transfer.[1]

History

The notion of delegating the assembly, maintenance and advancement of Saudi military capabilities to a sovereign entity was first introduced by King Abdulaziz Al Saud in 1949. A Royal decree was issued, stipulating the establishment of a weapons and artillery plant, on September 8, 1950. Contract agreements were concluded with two corporations for the supply of the necessary equipment and apparatus to be installed at the premises of the new factory.

This step was taken with a number of objectives in mind, chief of which was achieving self-sufficiency for the Saudi army. It sought to assert the sovereignty of the Kingdom’s Armed Forces and other military sectors in regard of weaponry and ammunition supplies, and aimed to further the training and employment of Saudi nationals. Another key objective was to successfully assimilate and implement relevant industry technologies.

Production at the Ammunition Factory began in 1953, and was followed by projects to acquire the necessary expertise and to train local plant personnel.[4] A new munitions factory was opened in Al-Kharj in 2016, in partnership with the German company Rheinmetall Denel Munition.[5]

Aims and objectives

MIC seeks to accommodate the needs and requirements of Saudi Arabia’s military sectors, acquiring technologies and building up military industries that are capable of keeping up with advancements in the Armed Forces. Its strategy includes:[4]

  1. Recruiting, developing and retaining a national work force. By agreement with the Ministry of Education it has awarded scholarships to 5,000 engineering students, who enter employment with the Corporation upon graduation.[6]
  2. Managing and developing MIC factories and plants.
  3. Achieving integration among MIC, the military sectors and government agencies.
  4. Cooperating with private sector entities, internally and externally, especially in the field of joint manufacturing.
  5. Conducting research in collaboration with national and international universities and research centers; enabling technology transfer among these institutes, and establishing its own research centers.

Human resource policy

MIC is a public corporation enjoying independent financial and administrative status, applying Civil Service and Labor regulations with its employees. It has provided 1,200 housing units for employees, equipped with schools, convenience stores, and health and recreation facilities.[7] It states that it supports its employees professionally and vocationally through training programs and skill-enhancing workshops.[4]

References

  1. 1 2 "King Salman Appoints USSABC Saudi Co-Chairman Head of Military Industries Corporation". U.S.-Saudi Arabian Business Council. Retrieved 12 September 2016.
  2. ↑ "Budget Allocations for Government Bodies." Arab News (Jeddah, Saudi Arabia). Al Bawaba (Middle East) Ltd. 30 December 2012. Retrieved September 12, 2016 from HighBeam Research
  3. ↑ "KSA Firms Eye Deals at Abu Dhabi Defense Show." Arab News (Jeddah, Saudi Arabia). Al Bawaba (Middle East) Ltd. 18 February 2013. Retrieved September 12, 2016 from HighBeam Research
  4. 1 2 3 Military Industries Corporation
  5. ↑ "Saudi Arabia opens munitions factory built by Rheinmetall Denel Munition". DefenceWeb. 4 April 2016.
  6. ↑ "KSA Has More Students Abroad Than Global Average." Arab News (Jeddah, Saudi Arabia). Al Bawaba (Middle East) Ltd. 7 November 2015. Retrieved September 12, 2016 from HighBeam Research
  7. ↑ "Saudi Binladin Group: Completed Projects". Saudi Binladin Group. Retrieved 12 September 2016.
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