UAE manufacturer wins SAR 28M in KSA Vision 2030 grants
and builds a Saudi operation from zero
Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 industrial localisation programme represented a once-in-a-generation opportunity for UAE-based manufacturers — but capturing that opportunity required a level of regulatory sophistication, financial structuring expertise, and government relationship management that most manufacturers simply did not have in-house. One UAE industrial manufacturer came to Dillon & Bird with a clear ambition: enter the Kingdom, qualify for the government incentive programme, and build a profitable Saudi operation. They had 11 months to make it work.
A transformative opportunity — with a demanding qualification framework
The Saudi Industrial Development Fund (SIDF) and the Ministry of Industry's grant programmes require applicants to demonstrate IKTVA (In-Kingdom Total Value Add) compliance — a complex scoring framework that most non-Saudi manufacturers had never encountered. The company had no idea where they stood against the IKTVA criteria.
The grant application process required audited financials, a detailed business plan compliant with Saudi accounting standards, and a local entity registration — all of which needed to be in place before the application window closed. The company had none of these.
The manufacturer's product line included components subject to Saudi Standards, Metrology and Quality Organization (SASO) certification requirements. Without SASO approval, no revenue could legally flow — making the investment entirely speculative until certification was secured.
A structured path from problem to outcome
IKTVA Baseline Assessment & Gap Analysis
We conducted a comprehensive IKTVA baseline assessment, scoring the company against all 14 criteria categories. The initial score was 28% — below the 30% threshold required for grant eligibility. We identified the specific actions needed to reach 35% within 90 days.
Saudi Entity Structuring
We designed a Saudi Limited Liability Company structure that maximised IKTVA scores through appropriate local equity participation while preserving the UAE parent's operational and financial control. We managed the full Commercial Registration process in Riyadh.
SIDF Grant Application
We prepared the complete SIDF grant application — financial model, business plan, IKTVA compliance documentation, and market feasibility study — in Saudi-standard format. The SAR 28M grant was approved within the standard 14-week review period.
SASO Certification Management
We managed the SASO product certification process for eight product lines — coordinating with Saudi testing laboratories and the SASO authority to achieve approval for all eight products within the required window.
Operational Launch Support
We supported the recruitment of the local management team, the establishment of the Riyadh manufacturing facility, and the first Saudi customer contract negotiations — including government procurement protocols.
Measurable impact — delivered on time
Full SIDF grant approval — covering 40% of the capital investment required for the Saudi manufacturing facility.
The grant funding transformed the Year 1 economics, reducing projected first-year losses by 72% vs. the unfunded scenario.
From an initial 28% to a qualifying 35% IKTVA score — unlocking grant eligibility within 90 days.
All eight product lines certified for Saudi market sale — generating first Saudi revenue in Month 7.
“We knew the opportunity was there but had no idea how to navigate the system. Dillon & Bird made the complexity disappear. The grant alone paid for years of advisory fees.”
— CEO, Industrial Manufacturer — UAESimilar challenges. Similar results.
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