Turkish Shipbuilder ARES to Establish Dual Shipyards in Saudi Arabia as Part of Gulf Expansion
ARES Shipyard to open two facilities in Dammam and Jeddah to build naval platforms and support maintenance under Saudi partnership
Turkish maritime and defence firm ARES Shipyard has announced plans to expand its footprint in the Gulf region with the creation of a new company in Saudi Arabia and the construction of two shipyards, industry sources reported this week.
Under the initiative, ARES Naval will be established in partnership with Saudi firm Sat-el Arab, with the Turkish company holding the majority share.
The facilities are planned for the eastern port city of Dammam and the Red Sea hub of Jeddah and are intended to manufacture naval platforms while offering maintenance, repair and overhaul services for end users including the Saudi Navy and Coast Guard.
ARES Shipyard’s chief executive Oğuzhan Pehlivanli said the strategy reflects an effort to build local industrial capacity in line with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 objectives, which aim to achieve a 50 per cent localisation of defence production by 2030 and encourage foreign firms to establish a domestic presence through local production or coproduction arrangements.
Pehlivanli underscored that ARES will work closely with Saudi naval prime contractor Sofon on requirements for state maritime forces.
Beyond Saudi Arabia, the company is actively pursuing broader export opportunities across Gulf Cooperation Council states as part of its long-term regional growth strategy.
The announcement follows ARES’s participation at the DIMDEX 2026 expo in Qatar, where the company showcased its unmanned surface vessel technology, further highlighting Ankara’s expanding naval export footprint.
Industry analysts say the move positions ARES to capitalise on rising defence industrial demand in the Middle East while contributing to Riyadh’s ambitions to develop sovereign maritime capabilities and strengthen regional naval infrastructure.
Under the initiative, ARES Naval will be established in partnership with Saudi firm Sat-el Arab, with the Turkish company holding the majority share.
The facilities are planned for the eastern port city of Dammam and the Red Sea hub of Jeddah and are intended to manufacture naval platforms while offering maintenance, repair and overhaul services for end users including the Saudi Navy and Coast Guard.
ARES Shipyard’s chief executive Oğuzhan Pehlivanli said the strategy reflects an effort to build local industrial capacity in line with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 objectives, which aim to achieve a 50 per cent localisation of defence production by 2030 and encourage foreign firms to establish a domestic presence through local production or coproduction arrangements.
Pehlivanli underscored that ARES will work closely with Saudi naval prime contractor Sofon on requirements for state maritime forces.
Beyond Saudi Arabia, the company is actively pursuing broader export opportunities across Gulf Cooperation Council states as part of its long-term regional growth strategy.
The announcement follows ARES’s participation at the DIMDEX 2026 expo in Qatar, where the company showcased its unmanned surface vessel technology, further highlighting Ankara’s expanding naval export footprint.
Industry analysts say the move positions ARES to capitalise on rising defence industrial demand in the Middle East while contributing to Riyadh’s ambitions to develop sovereign maritime capabilities and strengthen regional naval infrastructure.
