Erdoğan’s Saudi Arabia Visit Focuses on Trade, Investment and Strategic Cooperation
Turkish president travels to Riyadh with business delegation to expand economic ties, defence links and regional dialogue with Saudi leadership
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has commenced an official visit to Saudi Arabia with a large delegation of Turkish business leaders and officials, with economic cooperation, investments and defence cooperation at the forefront of discussions.
The two-day trip marks Erdoğan’s first overseas engagement of the year and reflects both Ankara’s and Riyadh’s intent to deepen bilateral relations in areas including trade, investment, energy and defence.
Erdoğan was received in Riyadh by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, underscoring the high level of political engagement.
The agenda for the visit includes a Saudi Arabia–Türkiye Business Forum and a series of strategic meetings aimed at bolstering private sector links and exploring expanded cooperation under Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 economic reforms.
Türkiye-Saudi trade, which has recently exceeded eight billion dollars annually, is targeted for significant growth over the coming years, with officials jointly aiming to move toward a long-term trade volume of around thirty billion dollars by broadening investment flows and project-based partnerships.
Key sectors identified for enhanced collaboration include energy, infrastructure, industry, construction, digital transformation and defence technologies.
Developments in regional security and political issues are also expected to form part of the dialogue between Erdoğan and Saudi leadership, with both sides noting the importance of coordination on Middle Eastern stability and economic integration.
Erdoğan’s visit follows recent authorisations by the Saudi cabinet enabling ministries to conclude cooperation agreements with Türkiye in renewable energy and civil defence, and the signing of a memorandum of understanding on social services cooperation.
The trip also ties into a broader regional diplomatic tour that will include a subsequent visit to Egypt to discuss strategic cooperation with Cairo.
Turkish officials and business representatives have portrayed the visit as a demonstration of mutual political will to elevate economic and defence ties, widen private sector cooperation and unlock new channels of investment.
The alignment of Türkiye’s industrial capabilities with Saudi Arabia’s ambitious development projects, including mega-projects under Vision 2030, is cited as a foundation for sustainable and balanced long-term economic partnerships across multiple sectors.
The two-day trip marks Erdoğan’s first overseas engagement of the year and reflects both Ankara’s and Riyadh’s intent to deepen bilateral relations in areas including trade, investment, energy and defence.
Erdoğan was received in Riyadh by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, underscoring the high level of political engagement.
The agenda for the visit includes a Saudi Arabia–Türkiye Business Forum and a series of strategic meetings aimed at bolstering private sector links and exploring expanded cooperation under Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 economic reforms.
Türkiye-Saudi trade, which has recently exceeded eight billion dollars annually, is targeted for significant growth over the coming years, with officials jointly aiming to move toward a long-term trade volume of around thirty billion dollars by broadening investment flows and project-based partnerships.
Key sectors identified for enhanced collaboration include energy, infrastructure, industry, construction, digital transformation and defence technologies.
Developments in regional security and political issues are also expected to form part of the dialogue between Erdoğan and Saudi leadership, with both sides noting the importance of coordination on Middle Eastern stability and economic integration.
Erdoğan’s visit follows recent authorisations by the Saudi cabinet enabling ministries to conclude cooperation agreements with Türkiye in renewable energy and civil defence, and the signing of a memorandum of understanding on social services cooperation.
The trip also ties into a broader regional diplomatic tour that will include a subsequent visit to Egypt to discuss strategic cooperation with Cairo.
Turkish officials and business representatives have portrayed the visit as a demonstration of mutual political will to elevate economic and defence ties, widen private sector cooperation and unlock new channels of investment.
The alignment of Türkiye’s industrial capabilities with Saudi Arabia’s ambitious development projects, including mega-projects under Vision 2030, is cited as a foundation for sustainable and balanced long-term economic partnerships across multiple sectors.
