Mohammed bin Abdulaziz Al-Ajlan, founder of Scopa industries Corp. LLC «Al Jundi»: We Aim for the Saudi market & localization of defence industries

Fully owned by the Ajlan&Bros holding group‭, ‬Scopa is one of the most prominent defence companies in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia‭. ‬Launched less than 2‭ ‬years ago‭, ‬Scopa directly contributes to the strategic plan of Vision 2030‭ ‬through the establishment of local military industries‭, ‬the modernization of the Saudi armed forces‭,‬‮ ‬and access to the global defence and security market in partnership with major international companies‭.‬

To learn more about the company‭, ‬Al-Jundi magazine interviewed Mr Mohammed bin Abdulaziz Al-Ajlan‭, ‬president‭, ‬owner and founder‭ ‬of Scopa Industries‭, ‬and had the following dialogue with him‭:‬

Tell us about Scopa‭, ‬its areas of work in general‭, ‬and its most prominent products

As a prominent defence company in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia‭, ‬and the defence arm of the Ajlan‭ & ‬Bros Holdings Group‭, ‬Scopa specializes in providing US‭,‬‮ ‬European and NATO defence products for the Saudi armed forces‭.‬

While continuing to establish itself as the leading private defence company in Saudi Arabia and the region‭,‬‮ ‬Scopa has established many partnerships to provide unmanned combat systems suitable for various environments‭ (‬land‭, ‬air‭, ‬and sea‭), ‬marine applications‭, ‬integrated air defence‭, ‬cyber security‭,‬‮ ‬and intelligence systems‭.‬

We established Scopa to be in line with the Kingdom’s Vision 2030‭, ‬which aims to localize 50%‭ ‬of military spending to Saudi Arabia‭.‬

We started by developing a strong strategy based on studies and research‭,‬‮ ‬establishing the advisory board first to develop the strategy and pave the way for our company to start transferring the military industry and advanced technologies to Saudi Arabia‭, ‬and ever since‭,‬‮ ‬our teams have been working tirelessly to adhere to the best international practices‭, ‬bridging the gap between original equipment manufacturer‭ (‬OEMs‭) ‬and the local Saudi market‭.‬

How important are the markets of Saudi Arabia and the Gulf for Scopa‭?‬

Scopa mainly targets the Saudi market‭, ‬as it strives to build a platform for the localization of defence industries first in the‭ ‬Kingdom‭, ‬and then the Gulf‭.‬

How do you see the cooperation between Scopa and the Gulf countries‭?‬

Scopa will expand its operations in the Gulf region while seeking out reliable partners‭.‬

Furthermore‭, ‬we expect an expansion in the market as well as an increase in the demand for defence procurement‭, ‬however‭, ‬the focus will be mainly on new technologies rather than conventional weapons‭.‬

How big are Scopa’s investments in the Saudi market‭?‬

Having been launched less than 2‭ ‬years ago‭, ‬Scopa is still establishing its status in the market‭.‬

However‭, ‬we are working hard to identify investment opportunities‭, ‬and have managed to pinpoint some areas of interest‭, ‬completed the due diligence process‭,‬‮ ‬and are currently waiting for government agencies to provide further guidance‭.‬

What new products is Scopa offering Saudi Arabia and the Gulf region‭?‬

We are focused on new technologies such as unmanned aerial and naval systems‭, ‬AI-based intelligence solutions‭, ‬force modernization using next-level C5ISR systems‭, ‬guided munitions‭,‬‮ ‬and conventional defence equipment‭.‬

What are your most prominent projects and plans for the next stage‭?‬

Multi-role combat vehicles‭ (‬MRCVs‭), ‬unmanned aircraft‭ (‬UAVs‭), ‬unmanned surface vehicles‭ (‬USVs‭), ‬C5ISR command‭, ‬control and intelligence systems‭, ‬and integrated air and missile defence systems‭ (‬IAMD‭).‬

We aim to be a defence engineering and design company‭, ‬as we participate in the development of our own intellectual property and‭ ‬technologies‭. ‬The next 24‭ ‬months will be critical‭, ‬given that the coming period will define Scopa’s foundations‭, ‬concepts‭, ‬strengths and core business‭.‬

What are Scopa’s most prominent achievements in the defence sector‭?‬

In less than 18‭ ‬months and with far fewer resources than competitors‭, ‬Scopa managed to position itself as one of the key players‭ ‬in the Saudi defence industry‭,‬‮ ‬and now we are considered a preferred partner for many global defence OEMs‭, ‬and an integral part‭ ‬of many defence exchange programs with foreign governments‭.‬

What are Scopa’s short-term‮ ‬goals‭?‬‮ ‬How do you see Scopa in 10‮ ‬years‭?‬

In the short term‭, ‬our objective is to secure sufficient business to establish the needed industrial capacity in Saudi Arabia and the‮ ‬region‭.‬‮ ‬We strive to be an important part of the defence ecosystem‭, ‬providing the Saudi Armed Forces with special solutions and‮ ‬concepts‭,‬‮ ‬while our long-term objective is to be one of the best defence manufacturers in the region‭, ‬and one of the top 100‭ ‬companies‮ ‬worldwide‭.‬

Would you like to send any message through Al-Jundi Journal to the defence‮ ‬community‭?‬

Scopa is your new defence partner in Saudi Arabia and the region‭, ‬We designed and built this company to emulate the international defence‮ ‬business‭,‬‮ ‬guided by the principles of the industry as we contribute directly to successful‮ ‬partnerships‭.‬

We aim to achieve the goals of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030‭ ‬and support the common goal of The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz and His Royal Highness Crown Prince‮ ‬Mohammed‮ ‬bin Salman to localize 50%‭ ‬of defence spending and achieve‭ ‬autonomy in the defence‮ ‬industry‭.‬

Profile:

Mohammed bin Abdulaziz Al-Ajlan‭ ‬

•‭ ‬Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors of Ajlan‭ & ‬Bros Group

•‭ ‬Chairman of the Board of Directors of Scopa Industries Corp

•‭ ‬Chairman of the Saudi-Chinese Business Council

•‭ ‬Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors of more than 75‭ ‬companies around the world

•‭ ‬possess more than 40‭ ‬years of experience in industry and trade‭, ‬as Ajlan‭ & ‬Bros Group owns the largest factories in the textile‭ ‬sector‭, ‬and employs more than 15,000‭ ‬individuals‭.‬

•‭ ‬A current member and a former board member of the Young Arab Leaders non-profit Organization‭.‬

•‭ ‬Received many awards and honours from the Chinese government‭.‬

 

‮«‬‭ Interviewed by‭:  ‬«Al Jundi»

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