Vertical Aerospace, a global company working on electric aircraft, has signed an important agreement with two partners in Saudi Arabia. These include AHQ Group, a major Saudi industrial company, and the Saudi National Industrial Development Centre (NIDC), which is part of the Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources. The agreement was signed in Riyadh.
This agreement sets the plan for the three parties to work together to build an Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) ecosystem in Saudi Arabia over the long term. The project supports Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, which aims to diversify the country’s economy and strengthen its advanced industrial and technology sectors.
Under this agreement, the three parties will explore opportunities such as local manufacturing, the commercial use of electric flying taxis (eVTOLs), and potential investment and government support. These efforts will help Vertical with aircraft certification and support its long-term growth plans. Saudi Arabia is seen as a high-potential market for advanced air mobility and could support more than 1,000 Valo aircraft, Vertical’s electric aircraft.
AHQ Group, as a major Saudi industrial company, will help assess the industrial setup, business models, and investment plans needed to build a strong and sustainable advanced air mobility ecosystem in the country.
Together, Vertical Aerospace, AHQ Group, and NIDC will explore ways to make Saudi Arabia a regional hub for electric aircraft manufacturing, battery systems, and advanced air mobility services. This supports Vision 2030 by encouraging industrial growth, creating skilled jobs, and promoting clean and sustainable transportation.
Stuart Simpson, CEO of Vertical Aerospace, said: “Saudi Arabia is one of the most strategically important future markets for Advanced Air Mobility. Signing this MoU here in Riyadh reflects the Kingdom’s ambition to build a world-class aerospace industrial capability under Vision 2030. Partnering with AHQ Group and NIDC brings together deep industrial expertise, capital strength and a shared commitment to establishing Saudi Arabia as a regional leader in this new sector.”
Chairman Tariq Abdel Hadi Al-Qahtani, AHQ Group, said: “Advanced Air Mobility represents a new frontier for Saudi Arabia’s industrial and mobility ambitions. Through this MoU with Vertical Aerospace and NIDC, we are exploring potential investment opportunities to build a scalable, globally competitive AAM ecosystem that combines advanced manufacturing, sustainable mobility and long-term economic value. AHQ Group brings deep industrial experience and local insight, and we see this partnership as an important step in supporting Vision 2030’s goals for diversification, innovation and high-quality job creation.”
Eng Saleh Al Solami, CEO of the National Industrial Development Centre (NIDC), added: “This MoU reflects NIDC’s mandate to enable advanced industries and attract high-value manufacturing to the Kingdom. Advanced Air Mobility has the potential to become a strategic industrial sector for Saudi Arabia, spanning aircraft manufacturing, battery systems and future mobility services. Working with Vertical Aerospace and AHQ Group allows us to assess potential pathways for localisation, investment and incentives, positioning the Kingdom as a regional hub for next-generation aerospace technologies in line with Vision 2030.”
Vertical Aerospace is a global aerospace and technology company focused on electric aviation. Its goal is to make air travel safer, cleaner, and quieter.
The company’s aircraft, called Valo, is a piloted electric flying vehicle that can take off and land vertically. It can carry four passengers and produces zero emissions during operation. Vertical is also working on a hybrid-electric version that will offer longer range and more flexibility for different use cases.
Vertical works closely with major aerospace partners such as Honeywell, Syensqo, and Aciturri, along with its own in-house battery and propeller technology, to build one of the most advanced and safest electric aircraft in the world.
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