Beyond Oil: How Chinese Firms Are Building Saudi Arabia's Future

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia – November 27, 2025 – A recent delegation of over 20 Chinese private enterprises to Riyadh for talks with the Saudi Ministry of Investment might seem like standard international business. But to view it as such would be to miss the forest for the trees. Organized by the enterprise service platform TOJOY, this visit is a telling indicator of a much deeper, more strategic convergence: the alignment of China’s immense industrial and technological capacity with the breathtaking ambition of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030.

This isn't just about securing contracts; it's about co-authoring the next chapter of the Saudi economy. As the Kingdom races to diversify away from its centuries-old reliance on oil, it is increasingly turning to Chinese private-sector innovators to help build the infrastructure, healthcare systems, and smart cities of its future. The discussions held in Riyadh, spanning infrastructure, artificial intelligence, and healthcare, represent a microcosm of a partnership that is reshaping economic flows and geopolitical alliances.

The Architects of Ambition: Vision 2030 Meets Chinese Enterprise

At the heart of this burgeoning relationship is Saudi Vision 2030, one of the most ambitious national transformation projects in modern history. The plan is a wholesale reimagining of the Saudi state, economy, and society. Its goals are monumental: develop giga-projects like the futuristic city of NEOM, generate 50% of the nation's electricity from renewables, and establish the Kingdom as a global hub for investment and technology.

Achieving this requires more than just capital; it demands proven expertise, scalable technology, and partners willing to engage in complex, long-term projects. This is where the synergy with China’s private sector becomes clear. While Western firms remain key players, Chinese companies in sectors like construction, renewable energy, and digital technology bring a unique combination of speed, scale, and cost-effectiveness that is highly attractive to Riyadh.

The delegation’s focus on AI, healthcare, and infrastructure directly maps onto Vision 2030’s most critical pillars. The Kingdom is investing heavily in its Health Sector Transformation Program, aiming to digitize records, expand e-health services, and build a domestic biotechnology industry. Similarly, its goal to become a top-15 global leader in AI by 2030 necessitates massive digital infrastructure rollouts, a domain where Chinese tech giants have extensive experience.

The New Silk Road's Connectors

Facilitating these complex international partnerships requires a new class of business intermediary. Enter platforms like TOJOY Enterprise Service, which organized the recent delegation. Led by Chairman and CEO Ge Jun, a former global vice president at Intel and Apple with a history of steering billions in strategic investments, TOJOY functions as more than a simple tour operator. It acts as a sophisticated business accelerator and matchmaker, connecting a vast network of Chinese entrepreneurs and investors with global opportunities.

These platforms are the unseen engines of this new wave of globalization. They vet companies, navigate initial regulatory hurdles, and provide the cultural and business context necessary for market entry. By curating a delegation with representatives from manufacturing, building materials, and technology, TOJOY is effectively presenting a portfolio of solutions tailored to Saudi Arabia’s specific developmental needs.

As Mr. Ge Jun noted during the talks, the goal is to foster resource complementarity. “Saudi Arabia...is actively advancing diversified economic development under Saudi Vision 2030, focusing on high-growth sectors,” he stated, adding that these areas “align closely with the strengths of Chinese enterprises in technology development, industrial integration and large-scale operations.” This highlights a conscious strategy to move beyond simple product sales toward deeper, more integrated industrial-chain collaboration.

From Blueprint to Reality: Sectors of Synergy

The preliminary cooperation intentions reached during the visit are not happening in a vacuum. They build upon a solid and rapidly expanding foundation of China-Saudi collaboration. With bilateral trade exceeding $100 billion annually and Chinese direct investment in the Kingdom surging, the partnership is already yielding tangible results.

In infrastructure, firms like China Railway Construction Corporation (CRCC) are already engaged in building core components of NEOM. The delegation’s talks signal an intent to broaden this involvement, potentially bringing in smaller, more specialized firms for everything from green building materials to advanced mixing equipment.

In smart transportation and AI, the groundwork is well-established. Huawei has been a key partner in Saudi Arabia's 5G rollout and smart city initiatives, while Alibaba Cloud is building out data centers. The potential entry of more Chinese firms in electric vehicles, like BYD, and AI-driven logistics points to a future where Chinese technology underpins the operational backbone of Saudi cities.

Perhaps most critically, the healthcare sector is ripe for collaboration. In late 2024, the two nations signed over 20 agreements focused on localizing vaccine and drug manufacturing and advancing biotechnology. Chinese expertise in AI-powered diagnostics and telemedicine could be instrumental in helping Saudi Arabia achieve its goal of creating a world-class, technology-driven healthcare system for its citizens.

Navigating a New Landscape: Challenges and Opportunities

Despite the immense promise, the path for Chinese firms in Saudi Arabia is not without its challenges. The Kingdom’s business environment, while rapidly reforming, remains complex. Mr. Ge Jun’s advice that Chinese enterprises should take a “long-term perspective...emphasizing localization and compliance” is a nod to these realities. The fact that several participating companies have already begun the process of local registration underscores their understanding that success requires deep commitment.

Key hurdles include the Saudization (Nitaqat) policy, which mandates hiring quotas for Saudi nationals, requiring foreign firms to invest heavily in local talent development. Navigating a legal system rooted in Sharia law and a bureaucracy undergoing significant change also demands patience and expert local guidance.

Furthermore, Chinese brands must work to build a reputation for quality and reliability in a market where Western competitors have long been established. However, the opportunities are compelling enough to outweigh these risks. The sheer scale of Vision 2030’s giga-projects, a young and tech-savvy population, and a government eager to attract foreign direct investment create a powerful pull.

This delegation, therefore, represents a calculated and strategic move. It is an acknowledgment that for China’s private sector, the future of global growth lies in emerging power centers like Riyadh. For Saudi Arabia, it is a recognition that to build a future beyond oil, it needs partners who can deliver innovation at an unprecedented scale and speed.