Saudi Arabia Ammunition Market Overview, 2030

The ammunition market in Saudi Arabia spans a wide range of products, from small arms ammunition to artillery shells, missile systems, and bombs. Given the country’s significant role in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), Saudi Arabia’s demand for ammunition is linked closely to its regional defense strategies, including counter-terrorism efforts, border protection, and military modernization. Ammunition for police forces, private security companies, and other law enforcement agencies are vital to ensuring internal security. Civilian ammunition for personal security and sporting purposes is steadily increasing in line with growing economic prosperity and the development of recreational sectors. Saudi Arabia is involved in ongoing regional conflicts, most notably the war in Yemen, as well as security concerns stemming from Iran’s influence in the region. This creates a consistent demand for advanced and diverse ammunition types. The country’s military modernization programs continue to increase the need for sophisticated and high-tech munitions, including precision-guided munitions (PGMs) and missile systems. Saudi Arabia has one of the largest defense budgets in the world, allocating a significant portion to ammunition procurement. Saudi Arabia maintains close military ties with major global powers such as the United States, UK, and France. These alliances facilitate the flow of ammunition and weapons into the country, especially high-tech and specialized ammunition for modern military systems. Saudi Arabia’s access to ammunition is subject to international arms control regulations, as well as the export restrictions imposed by certain countries due to the Kingdom’s involvement in regional conflicts. These restrictions may limit the availability of certain types of ammunition, particularly those related to advanced military technologies. Saudi Arabian Military Industries (SAMI) and other local defense contractors are focused on building the country's ammunition production infrastructure, which would reduce reliance on foreign suppliers and allow for more flexible production timelines and cost-effectiveness. part of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 initiative, the country aims to enhance its technological capabilities across various industries, including defense. This opens opportunities for the development and adoption of advanced ammunition technologies, such as smart ammunition and precision-guided munitions, which improve efficiency and effectiveness in modern combat scenarios.

According to the research report "Saudi Arabia Ammunition Market Overview, 2030," published by Bonafide Research, the Saudi Arabia Ammunition market is anticipated to grow at more than 5.41% CAGR from 2025 to 2030. International sanctions or arms embargoes, potentially imposed by bodies like the United Nations, could hinder Saudi Arabia’s ability to access certain technologies or defense supplies. Saudi Arabia is a signatory to various international arms control treaties, but the country has not ratified major disarmament agreements like the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT). This controls the export of conventional arms and dual-use technologies, which impacts Saudi Arabia’s arms trading relationships. Saudi Arabia adheres to this treaty, ensuring that it does not engage in the production or use of chemical weapons, which influences its ammunition production policies. With advanced technology, smart or guided ammunition, which can be more accurate and effective, is gaining ground in military strategies. These innovations are intended to reduce collateral damage and improve precision targeting. Research into directed-energy weapons (like laser guns) is another technological frontier that may influence the future of ammunition in Saudi Arabia, offering precision targeting with minimal physical projectiles. The military industry is focused on reducing environmental damage from traditional ammunition, including the reduction of hazardous chemical residues in spent rounds. Saudi Arabia’s defense sector has shown interest in collaborating with international firms to improve the environmental performance of their products. Efforts to increase the recycling of spent cartridges and shell casings are also being pursued to reduce waste and promote sustainability. Innovations are focused on increasing the accuracy and range of ammunition while making them more adaptable to different environments. This includes the development of low-cost, high-efficiency ammunition for mass deployment in defense operations. There is growing interest in the development of autonomous or semi-autonomous ammunition, which could be deployed via drones or other unmanned vehicles. This would significantly change the dynamics of modern warfare. Saudi Arabia is focusing on increasing its domestic production capacity for ammunition and defense systems as part of its Vision 2030 initiative to diversify its economy.

Bullets are the most common type of ammunition used by armed forces and law enforcement in Saudi Arabia. They are designed for use in small arms such as rifles and pistols. The Saudi military and police force rely heavily on small arms ammunition for both offensive and defensive purposes. The demand for bullets is influenced by factors such as national defense needs and domestic security, particularly in counterterrorism operations. Saudi Arabia has a modern air force, and aerial bombs are integral to their military capabilities. These bombs are dropped from aircraft and are used in both strategic and tactical military operations. The market for aerial bombs in Saudi Arabia is influenced by its involvement in regional conflicts, such as in Yemen. With the increasing focus on air superiority, there is significant demand for precision-guided munitions, which are an advanced form of aerial bombs. Grenades are another critical segment in Saudi Arabia's ammunition market, primarily used for close combat situations or in urban warfare. The Kingdom invests in a variety of grenade types, including fragmentation, concussion, and smoke grenades. They are key in Special Forces and infantry operations, especially in dealing with asymmetric warfare and internal security threats. Artillery shells are used in large-caliber weapons like howitzers. They are central to Saudi Arabia's long-range fire capabilities. With a focus on enhancing military strength, the demand for advanced artillery shells, especially precision-guided ones, has risen as Saudi Arabia strengthens its defense and military infrastructure. Mortars are versatile, short-range weapons used for indirect fire in military engagements. The Saudi military uses mortars for rapid support fire during ground operations. Mortars are crucial in urban warfare and provide a tactical advantage in terms of mobility and firepower.

The ammunition market in Saudi Arabia is segmented based on caliber, which refers to the diameter of the ammunition. Large caliber ammunition typically used in weapons like anti-aircraft guns, heavy machine guns, and artillery systems, plays a crucial role in Saudi Arabia’s defense strategy. The demand for ammunition above 40mm is driven by the need for long-range, high-impact weapons capable of providing heavy firepower, especially in warfare scenarios. Saudi Arabia’s military investment includes advanced artillery systems and armored vehicles that utilize large-caliber rounds, reflecting its strategic focus on enhancing its offensive and defensive capabilities. Additionally, Saudi Arabia’s military engagements, particularly in conflicts like Yemen, highlight the importance of these heavy weapon systems. Medium caliber ammunition is commonly used in automatic and semi-automatic weapons, including medium machine guns, grenade launchers, and certain armored vehicle guns. This category is highly relevant for both land and air defense operations. Saudi Arabia’s military and security forces rely on medium-caliber rounds for their versatility, providing a balance between mobility and firepower. The growth in demand for medium-caliber ammunition is also linked to the Kingdom’s modernization efforts, which include upgrading its artillery and air defense systems. The medium-caliber range is essential for both conventional warfare and counterterrorism operations, often used in urban combat and border protection. Small caliber ammunition, typically used in rifles, pistols, and submachine guns, forms the backbone of Saudi Arabia’s infantry forces. The demand for small-caliber rounds is vast, as they are central to daily operations of military personnel and law enforcement agencies. Saudi Arabia’s focus on internal security, counterterrorism, and border control relies heavily on small-caliber ammunition.

The defense and military sector is the largest and most influential segment of the ammunition market in Saudi Arabia. With ongoing regional conflicts and the Kingdom's strategic defense initiatives, the demand for ammunition in this sector is significant. Saudi Arabia’s military, one of the most advanced in the Middle East, uses a broad range of ammunition, including small, medium, and large-caliber rounds for land, air, and sea operations. The Kingdom’s defense strategy involves maintaining a well-equipped force with advanced munitions, such as guided artillery shells, precision bombs, and large-caliber ammunition for tanks and armored vehicles. Law enforcement agencies in Saudi Arabia also contribute to the demand for ammunition. The Kingdom's police forces and specialized units rely on a wide range of ammunition for maintaining internal security and dealing with potential threats, such as terrorism and civil unrest. This includes small-caliber ammunition for handguns and rifles, as well as non-lethal options like rubber bullets and tear gas for crowd control. The law enforcement sector also has a growing need for more specialized ammunition for counterterrorism and riot control, making it a crucial market segment. Hunting and sport shooting have a cultural significance in Saudi Arabia, contributing to the demand for ammunition. The market for hunting ammunition typically involves smaller calibers suited for game hunting, while sport shooting, particularly in clay pigeon shooting and target competitions, drives demand for various calibers, recreational settings. Ammunition manufacturers in Saudi Arabia cater to this segment with a variety of high-performance rounds that meet both local and international standards. Commercial use of ammunition in Saudi Arabia is primarily related to the sale of firearms and ammunition for civilians. This includes the retail of small arms ammunition for personal protection and hunting.




Considered in this report
• Historic Year: 2019
• Base year: 2024
• Estimated year: 2025
• Forecast year: 2030

Aspects covered in this report
• Ammunition Market with its value and forecast along with its segments
• Various drivers and challenges
• On-going trends and developments
• Top profiled companies
• Strategic recommendation

By Product
• Bullets
• Aerial Bombs
• Grenades
• Artillery Shells
• Mortars

By Caliber
• Large Caliber (Above 40mm)
• Medium Caliber (12.7mm to 40mm)
• Small Caliber (Up to 12.7mm)

By Application
• Defense & Military
• Law Enforcement
• Hunting & Sport Shooting
• Commercial Use

The approach of the report:
This report consists of a combined approach of primary as well as secondary research. Initially, secondary research was used to get an understanding of the market and listing out the companies that are present in the market. The secondary research consists of third-party sources such as press releases, annual report of companies, analyzing the government generated reports and databases. After gathering the data from secondary sources primary research was conducted by making telephonic interviews with the leading players about how the market is functioning and then conducted trade calls with dealers and distributors of the market. Post this we have started doing primary calls to consumers by equally segmenting consumers in regional aspects, tier aspects, age group, and gender. Once we have primary data with us we have started verifying the details obtained from secondary sources.

Intended audience
This report can be useful to industry consultants, manufacturers, suppliers, associations & organizations related to agriculture industry, government bodies and other stakeholders to align their market-centric strategies. In addition to marketing & presentations, it will also increase competitive knowledge about the industry.