A seasoned executive with a nearly three-decades-long distinguished career in the Technology industries, Eng. Walid Abukhaled, is the Chief Executive Officer of SAMI, he led the company to be among top 100 defense companies in only four years since it started operations. Eng. Abukhaled leads the company to achieve its business strategy and targets. He works closely with all stakeholders and partners to drive forward, deliver world-class products and services, and attain the company’s vision of becoming a top-25 global defense company by 2030. Backed by his leadership skills, Eng. Walid gained within 2 years the trust of the Saudi Armed Forces lead him to the signing of 12 global partnership contracts with a worth exceeding 10bn sar

Eng. Abukhaled joined SAMI from Northrop Grumman where he served as Chief Executive Officer
for Middle East, responsible for leading the company's operations across the region, developing
strategies for growth, and identifying new business opportunities, in addition to managing strategic
relationships, as well as identifying and executing joint venture and merger and acquisition
opportunities.
Prior to that, Eng. Abukhaled was Deputy Minister for Industrial Affairs at the Ministry of Commerce
(previously Ministry of Commerce & Industry). He led the development of new policies and strategies
for the promotion, expansion, and sustainable development of Saudi Arabia’s industrial sector, as
part of its continued industrial and economic diversification efforts.
Leveraging his local expertise and excellent leadership skills, Eng. Abukhaled has also served as
President and CEO for Saudi Arabia and Bahrain at General Electric (GE), where he led the
company's operations and strategy for growth.
Eng. Abukhaled also held a variety of roles at BAE Systems and its predecessor British Aerospace,
where he started his career in May 1990, over an extensive career spanning 21 years in both Saudi
Arabia and the UK. Before leaving the company, he was Director of Portfolio Management and
Chairman of BAE Systems Saudi Arabia Operations Board.
Eng. AbuKhaled's currently serves as Chairman of the Board of Directors at both the National
Academy of Military Industries and Advanced Electronics Company, as well as Chairman of the
Advisory Board of Cranfield University.
The Saudi national industry veteran has several accolades to his name, including the ‘Entrepreneur
of the Year – Thought Leadership’ honor at the Enterprise Agility Awards
2018 and the ‘CEO of the Year’ from Arabian Business magazine in 2015. In addition he
was named as one of the top three ‘Revolutionary CEOs in the Middle East’
in 2011 the top three ‘Revolutionary CEOs in the Middle East’
in 2011.