Spotlight: Saudi Arabia's Emerging Business Corridors with Global Markets

Saudi Arabia is rapidly positioning itself as a global business hub by forging high-impact partnerships with markets like the Netherlands and Germany. These new agreements span agriculture, sustainability, and logistics reflecting the Kingdom’s shift toward innovation-driven ecosystems aligned with Vision 2030.

Saudi Arabia's path toward diversification and sustainability centers on strengthening global trade and investment initiatives with multiple global markets.

With momentum building between Saudi Arabia and Europe, businesses from several global markets, including Germany and the Netherlands, have recently established a series of concrete partnerships and agreements spanning key sectors with their Saudi counterparts.

Here’s a summary of the latest collaborations shaping the future of the Europe-Saudi business corridor.

Saudi Arabia and the Netherlands Sign Agreements Worth $114 Billion

The Kingdom signed 27 agreements worth over $114 million in Amsterdam, targeting agricultural technology localization, environmental sustainability, and water management systems.

The agreements establish genuine technology transfer mechanisms that build local capabilities.

Key collaborations and partnerships include:

• Saudi National Program for Development of the Livestock and Fisheries Sector partnered with Dutch company VigGuard to localize livestock disease control research.
• The National Center for Sustainable Agriculture Research and Development signed memoranda with the Dutch Greenhouse Alliance, Hoogendoorn, Hudson River Biotechnology, and Wageningen University to launch initiatives in agricultural innovation and greenhouse farming solutions.
• Makkah Region Development Authority collaborated with Van der Hoeven Projects and Horizon 11 for biotechnology transfer.
• Al-Yasin Agricultural Company partnered with the Cobret Experimental Center in a $1.07 million biotechnology initiative focused on crop protection and control systems.
• Saudi Greenhouse Management and Agricultural Marketing Company formed joint ventures with Plantae and Certhon to localize agricultural sector innovations.

These agreements will act as a catalyst for attracting a higher influx of Dutch businesses to set up a business in Saudi Arabia.

11 Agreements Inked to Bring Dutch entities into SAFTA

During GreenTech Amsterdam 2025, SAFTA welcomed eleven Dutch companies and research institutions, demonstrating how the Kingdom is building comprehensive ecosystems rather than pursuing isolated deals.

SAFTA operates as a national platform that connects domestic and international partners to accelerate research and development, technology adoption, and implementation of global best practices. The focus areas span smart farming, environmental sustainability, and food production quality.

Dutch entities joining SAFTA bring expertise in precision agriculture, sustainable farming techniques, and food processing innovations.

This institutional approach supports Saudi Arabia's food security strategy while simultaneously building domestic capabilities in agricultural technology development.

Water management represents another critical area of collaboration. Agreements with the Netherlands Water Partnership and Dutch Water Alliance have brought these organizations into the Saudi Water Innovation Alliance initiative.

Given the Kingdom's arid climate and growing agricultural ambitions, this partnership leverages Dutch expertise in water resource management, irrigation efficiency, water recycling technologies, and sustainable water usage practices, all essential for large-scale agricultural development.

Maersk, Panattoni, JD Property Sign Deals with Saudi Entities at Munich Expo

Beyond agricultural innovation, Saudi Arabia's partnership strategy extends to logistics infrastructure.

At Transport Logistic 2025 in Munich, Maersk, Panattoni, and JD Property signed strategic agreements with Saudi entities. Worth noting that the Kingdom's logistics market, valued at $136.3 billion in 2024, is projected to reach $198.9 billion by 2030 at a 6.5% annual growth rate.

The Munich agreements span multiple dimensions of logistics development. These include:

• MODON signed with US-based Panattoni to develop a logistics project in Jeddah targeting supply chain efficiency improvements
• JTM, Silk Mile, and Assaat formed an investment partnership to establish a logistics joint venture in the Kingdom.
• MODON also partnered with JD Property on advanced logistics infrastructure and technology solutions localization.
• GFS Express and Hefei Logistics Group signed a memorandum to enhance logistics collaboration and develop supply chain solutions.
• SAL partnered with GCL to create specialized logistics solutions for the entertainment, sports, and arts sectors.
• NIDLP partnered with Germany's Koppern to explore localizing roller press systems and compaction machines.
• SPL, Scan Global, and Maersk collaborated on air freight enhancement, delivery solutions, and digital logistics infrastructure development.

These strategic partnerships illustrate Saudi Arabia’s objectives to boost trade and connectivity as well as the adoption of innovative technologies, thereby stimulating economic growth