As part of its investment strategy aimed at developing specialized business platforms that stimulate investment, facilitate knowledge transfer, and enhance the competitiveness of future-focused sectors, Startime announced the launch of the Saudi International Unmanned Systems Expo (SUS Expo), the first international project within the Startime Business Portfolio, which is dedicated to developing international trade exhibitions, specialized forums, and industry-focused gatherings designed to support market growth, empower high-potential sectors, and create sustainable economic opportunities.
The launch of the Expo reflects Startime’s investment philosophy, which is centered on developing high-value projects aligned with future priorities and national development objectives through clearly defined investment portfolios focused on high-growth and strategically important sectors. Through its Business Portfolio, Startime creates specialized platforms that bring together investors, innovators, manufacturers, and decision-makers under one roof, accelerating the flow of knowledge, strengthening commercial collaboration, and supporting the development of long-term partnerships that generate sustainable economic impact.
SUS Expo is one of the key projects associated with the Advanced Technologies investment track, one of Startime’s core investment domains alongside Defense Capabilities, National Security, Environmental Priorities, and Women Empowerment & Next-Generation Development. The project reflects Startime’s belief that unmanned systems, autonomous technologies, artificial intelligence, semiconductors, and the Internet of Things are no longer simply emerging technologies, but have become fundamental drivers reshaping economies, industries, and markets around the world.
The Expo will take place from 25 to 28 October 2027 at the Riyadh International Convention & Exhibition Center (RICEC), with the ambition of becoming a global platform that redefines the future of autonomous technologies by integrating innovation, manufacturing, and application within one unified ecosystem. The event is built on a vision that transforms advanced technologies from promising innovations into practical applications and industrial and investment solutions capable of creating tangible impact across economies and societies.
The Expo is being launched at a time when the world is witnessing unprecedented transformation driven by the convergence of artificial intelligence, the Internet of Things, semiconductors, and unmanned systems. These technologies are rapidly expanding across civil, commercial, industrial, and defense sectors. Global indicators further suggest that unmanned systems have become a central component of a technology ecosystem expected to exceed USD 5 trillion by 2030, positioning the sector among the most influential forces shaping the future global economy.
The Saudi International Unmanned Systems Expo is built around three strategic pillars: Innovation, Manufacturing, and Application. The Innovation pillar focuses on showcasing breakthrough ideas and emerging technologies while fostering an environment that supports research, development, and talent discovery. The Manufacturing pillar emphasizes technology localization, advanced supply chains, industrial capability development, and local content enhancement. The Application pillar is dedicated to transforming technological advances into practical solutions capable of delivering real-world value across economic and development sectors.
The event extends far beyond a traditional trade exhibition. Its integrated program includes a professional conference bringing together experts, industry leaders, and decision-makers, a global innovation hackathon, a comprehensive business and investment meetings program, and an official opening ceremony designed to highlight the significance of the event and its role in shaping the future of advanced technologies. This integrated structure aims to establish a global platform capable of connecting innovation with application and investment with manufacturing within a highly specialized professional environment.
SUS Expo aims to attract companies and institutions across fifteen specialized sectors, including unmanned systems, artificial intelligence and analytics, semiconductors and microelectronics, the Internet of Things and smart infrastructure, imaging and sensing technologies, autonomous control systems, software solutions and systems integration, cybersecurity, smart safety and security technologies, specialized robotics, logistics and supply chains, smart energy technologies, entertainment, media and events, education, training and simulation, and future smart cities, creating a comprehensive platform that covers the entire advanced technology value chain.
The Expo also addresses more than twenty application domains representing some of the world’s most significant future priorities and emerging market opportunities, including national security, energy, digital health, Industry 4.0, smart agriculture, smart mining, intelligent transportation, industrial safety, environmental sustainability, defense support, smart cities, geographic information systems, supply chains, media and entertainment, and other sectors experiencing rapid demand for autonomous technologies and intelligent systems.
SUS Expo is designed to support the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030 by encouraging investment in advanced technologies, facilitating technology transfer and localization, strengthening national supply chains, stimulating innovation and entrepreneurship, empowering startups, and attracting high-value international partnerships. It also seeks to reinforce Saudi Arabia’s position as a regional hub for unmanned systems, intelligent applications, and advanced manufacturing while creating a more attractive environment for investors, manufacturers, innovators, and technology leaders from around the world.
The event is expected to attract more than 500 participating organizations from over 30 countries, in addition to 80,000+ visitors, 500+ investors and decision-makers, and more than 1,000 business meetings, while targeting commercial and investment opportunities exceeding USD 1 billion. These indicators reflect the scale of the project’s ambitions and its anticipated role in stimulating investment, accelerating industrial localization, and strengthening Saudi Arabia’s competitiveness within one of the fastest-growing industries globally.
Startime emphasized that the launch of SUS Expo 2027 represents a significant milestone in the growth of the Startime Business Portfolio and a practical expression of its investment philosophy, which focuses on developing specialized projects that address market gaps, respond to emerging trends, and support national development priorities. The project reflects the company’s commitment to contributing to a more competitive and sustainable economy through the development of international platforms that bring together innovation, manufacturing, investment, and knowledge under one roof, creating lasting economic and knowledge-based impact for years to come.
