Chinese EV, Solar and Energy Companies in Saudi Arabia

Red Dragon Office·Updated 2026-10-11

Few sectors in Saudi Arabia match Chinese strengths as closely as clean energy and electric mobility. China leads global supply chains for solar modules, inverters, batteries and EVs, while Saudi Arabia is investing heavily in renewables, grid upgrades and local vehicle production under Vision 2030. This article explains where the opportunities are, how projects are usually procured, and what Chinese companies need in place to compete.

Why the Saudi energy transition matters for Chinese companies

Saudi Arabia has publicly stated an ambition for renewables to supply roughly half of its electricity by 2030, alongside a wider goal of reducing emissions under the Saudi Green Initiative. Industry reports suggest targets have been revised upward over time, and exact figures depend on official updates, so treat any number as indicative. What is clear is the direction: large utility-scale solar and wind projects, battery energy storage to balance them, new transmission lines, and green hydrogen and giga-project utilities such as those planned at NEOM.

Chinese companies are already part of this picture. Public reports show Chinese contractors acting as EPC partners on several solar and wind projects, Chinese developers taking part in bidding consortia, and Chinese modules and inverters widely used in the market. For newcomers, this means Saudi buyers are familiar with Chinese suppliers, but competition among them is intense.

Solar, wind and storage: how projects are procured

Understanding who actually buys is the most important step. The main routes are:

• National Renewable Energy Program (NREP) rounds, tendered by the Saudi Power Procurement Company (SPPC) under the Ministry of Energy, usually as independent power projects awarded to developer consortia
• PIF-linked projects, typically developed with ACWA Power, which make up a large share of planned capacity
• Utility and grid tenders by the Saudi Electricity Company and its grid business for substations, cables, transformers and storage
• Giga-project utilities at NEOM, the Red Sea and other developments, each with its own procurement team
• Commercial and industrial buyers, such as factories and logistics parks, installing rooftop solar or on-site storage

In most utility-scale projects, foreign companies do not sell to the government directly. Instead they act as developer partners, EPC contractors, equipment suppliers or O&M providers to the winning consortium. That makes relationships with developers and EPCs, and early qualification on their vendor lists, just as important as price.

EVs and batteries: the localisation push

Saudi Arabia wants a domestic EV industry, not only EV imports. Ceer, the PIF-backed brand set up with Foxconn, has a site at King Abdullah Economic City, and Lucid has an assembly plant there with plans to expand local manufacturing. Other carmakers have announced Saudi projects, but timelines and volumes change, so follow official company announcements rather than headlines.

For Chinese suppliers, localisation creates openings at several levels:

• Battery cells, modules and packs, and battery materials
• Electric drive components, wiring harnesses, electronics and thermal systems
• Charging equipment and software, as charging networks expand through players such as EVIQ, a joint venture of PIF and the Saudi Electricity Company
• Tooling, automation and factory equipment for new plants
• After-sales, spare parts and service networks for imported Chinese EV brands

If you plan to produce locally, read our guide to setting up a Chinese factory in Saudi Arabia, which covers MODON industrial cities, special economic zones and the industrial licence.

Certifying equipment: SASO and SABER

Before most electrical products can be sold or cleared at customs, they need to show conformity with Saudi technical regulations issued by the Saudi Standards, Metrology and Quality Organization (SASO). Certification is managed through the SABER platform, usually with a product certificate for the model and a shipment certificate for each consignment. SASO has specific regulations for electric vehicles and EV chargers, and other regulations cover items such as small solar PV systems, low-voltage equipment, cables and batteries. Some products also need energy-efficiency registration.

Large project equipment may follow project specifications and utility approvals in addition to SASO rules, so check both. In practice, prepare:

• Correct HS codes, which determine the regulation that applies
• Test reports from accredited laboratories (typically ISO/IEC 17025) against the referenced IEC or SASO standards
• Technical files, user manuals and Arabic labelling where required
• Factory and brand details consistent across all documents

See our SABER product conformity service for how RDO handles this step.

Local content and vendor registration

Local content increasingly decides who can bid. The Local Content and Government Procurement Authority (LCGPA) sets rules for government entities, and many energy buyers run their own programmes, such as Saudi Aramco’s iktva. Renewable rounds have also been reported to include local content requirements. A Chinese supplier with a Saudi entity, local staff or local assembly is usually better placed than a pure exporter. See our local content certificate guide.

Each major buyer has its own supplier portal and prequalification, so registration is not a one-time task. Our supplier and vendor registration service and contractor classification service explain how this is usually organised.

Choosing an entry model

The right structure depends on whether you sell products, deliver projects or manufacture. Common options for Chinese companies include:

• Export through a Saudi distributor or agent, often the fastest way to test demand for modules, inverters or chargers (see distributor search)
• A branch or LLC licensed by MISA, usually needed to sign EPC, installation or service contracts and to register with major buyers
• A joint venture with a Saudi partner, which can help with local relationships and local content scores
• Local assembly or manufacturing, the strongest position for local content and long-term supply agreements

Practical tip: start SABER certification and vendor registration before a specific tender appears. Qualification and certification can take longer than the bidding window itself.

How RDO helps Chinese energy and EV companies

RDO works in Arabic, English and Chinese, so your engineers and managers in China can follow every step. We prepare and follow up MISA licensing and company setup, handle SASO and SABER certification files, coordinate vendor and supplier registrations, prepare local content documentation, and support HR and Saudization compliance once your team is on the ground. Decisions remain with the authorities and buyers, but organised files and correct sequencing save time. For the bigger picture, read our guide for Chinese companies in Saudi Arabia or see China-Saudi business services.

Frequently asked questions