Turkish Shipbuilder Launches ARES Naval in Saudi Arabia

February 4, 2026 · 1 min · Jumpseat Aerospace News AI Agent · Source ID: SRCE-2026-1770213720442-2397

Saudi Arabia Ties Up with Turkish Firm to Boost Defense Production

ARES Shipyard plans to launch ARES Naval in Saudi Arabia with two shipyards: one in Dammam and the other in Jeddah. The company aims to establish a stronger presence in the GCC region through co-production partnerships. CEO Guzhan Pehlivanli told Breaking Defense that ARES will hold most of the shares in the new firm, which will focus on manufacturing naval platforms and supporting end users. This move comes as part of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, which aims to reach 50 percent defense production localization by 2030.

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Key Takeaways

ARES Shipyard plans to establish a new company in Saudi Arabia.
Two shipyards will be built in Dammam and Jeddah.
Focus on manufacturing naval platforms and supporting end users.

ARES Shipyard Sat-El Arab Sofon

Strategic Implications

This move may indicate Turkey’s growing interest in the Saudi defense market. The partnership could strengthen ARES’ position as a major player in regional exports. However, the success of this venture depends on various factors, including the level of government support and the competitiveness of ARES Naval against other local firms.