Commentary & Analysis

Introduction

Relations between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Kingdom of Belgium have developed into an increasingly substantive partnership encompassing political dialogue, trade and investment, logistics, healthcare, technology, industry, and security cooperation. Although the relationship has traditionally been characterized by political relations and expanding commercial exchanges, Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 and Belgium's specialized economic and technological capabilities have created new opportunities for deeper cooperation. At the same time, the deterioration of the regional security environment in 2026 has added a new dimension to bilateral relations, particularly in the areas of maritime security, defense technology, and the protection of critical infrastructure.

The significance of Saudi-Belgian relations lies in the complementarity of the two economies and their respective international positions. Saudi Arabia offers a large and rapidly transforming market, substantial investment capacity, energy resources, and growing regional influence. Belgium provides expertise in logistics, petrochemical exports via the Port of Antwerp-Bruges, pharmaceuticals, healthcare, advanced manufacturing, digital technologies, chemicals, and maritime security, while its position at the heart of the European Union provides an important channel for Saudi engagement with European institutions and markets. The relationship's future is therefore shaped by three principal areas: economic and technological cooperation linked to Vision 2030; logistics, industrial development, sustainability, and critical raw materials; and expanding cooperation in defense and maritime security. Political coordination on regional issues also increasingly provides an additional dimension.

Historical Foundations and the Development of Bilateral Relations

The foundations of Saudi-Belgian relations extend back more than a century. Saudi and Belgian leaders established early political contacts during the formative period of the Kingdom, with subsequent high-level visits helping to consolidate bilateral ties. Belgium opened its diplomatic mission in Jeddah in 1954, while the two countries subsequently developed permanent diplomatic representation and institutional channels for political and economic cooperation.

Over time, bilateral relations expanded beyond political exchanges to include trade, investment, education, culture, and business cooperation. Political consultations have likewise become more structured. The relationship subsequently gained further momentum through continued ministerial engagement and preparations for a major Belgian economic mission to Saudi Arabia in 2026.

Economic engagement became particularly important as Belgian companies increasingly entered the Saudi market. Belgian economic missions to the Kingdom helped establish commercial networks between the two countries. The SaudiBelgian-Luxembourg Business Council, which was established in March 2022, has also provided an institutional mechanism for facilitating business contacts and identifying new areas of economic cooperation. The Council's mandate includes opening new qualitative areas of cooperation and facilitating trade and investment between the two sides.

Economic Transformation, Trade, and Investment

Economic cooperation remains at the center of Saudi-Belgian relations. Bilateral trade has expanded, with Saudi Arabia being Belgium’s 27th client at EUR 3.1 billion and 30th supplier at EUR 2.3 billion in 2025. The composition of trade also reflects the increasingly diversified character of the relationship, with chemicals, machinery and equipment, plastics, and mineral products forming important components of bilateral commerce.

The next phase of economic cooperation can increasingly be linked to Saudi Arabia's objective of developing domestic industrial and technological capabilities. Belgian companies can contribute to this process through specialized expertise in pharmaceuticals, chemicals, engineering, medical technologies, logistics, advanced manufacturing, and digital solutions. For Saudi Arabia, the objective is not simply to increase imports, but to encourage investment, localization, knowledge transfer, training, joint ventures, and the development of domestic supply chains.

The Belgian Economic Mission to Saudi Arabia, scheduled for November 2026 and led by Her Majesty Queen Mathilde, represents a particularly important opportunity to deepen the relationship. The mission will focus on Riyadh and Dammam and bring together Belgian federal and regional authorities with companies seeking partnerships in the Kingdom. The mission's focus on logistics, digital technologies, healthcare, sustainability, critical raw materials, defense, and hospitality provides a framework for moving bilateral economic relations from individual transactions towards broader sectoral partnerships.

Logistics, in particular, represents one of the clearest areas of complementarity between Saudi Arabia and Belgium. Saudi Arabia's strategic location between Asia, Europe, and Africa is central to its ambition to become a global logistics hub. The Kingdom's National Industrial Development and Logistics Program seeks to strengthen industrial capacity and leverage Saudi Arabia's geographical position to develop the country as a major logistics center. Belgium, meanwhile, possesses extensive experience in ports, transportation, warehousing, distribution, customs, and integrated European supply chains. Cooperation can therefore extend beyond physical infrastructure to port management, logistics technology, digital supplychain systems, customs facilitation, warehousing, and the development of resilient trade corridors.

The strategic importance of this sector has increased considerably in 2026 as disruptions to maritime trade have demonstrated the vulnerability of major international shipping routes. Continued instability around the Strait of Hormuz, Bab al-Mandab, and the Red Sea has reinforced the importance of alternative routes, diversified supply chains, maritime awareness, and resilient infrastructure. Saudi Arabia's efforts to strengthen maritime connectivity and Belgium's role as a European logistics hub create a natural basis for cooperation in this area.

Defense and Maritime Security

Defense and security cooperation have acquired renewed importance in 2026 as the regional security environment has deteriorated. Saudi Arabia has faced attacks from Iran, while the security of the Gulf and Red Sea maritime corridors has become increasingly uncertain. Saudi Arabia is simultaneously seeking to strengthen its defensive capabilities and develop a more integrated domestic defense industry.

Belgium offers several specialized capabilities that are relevant to these objectives. In particular, Belgian expertise in naval mine warfare and underwater systems has attracted greater attention from Gulf partners. In May 2026, Belgian authorities hosted representatives from Gulf states, including Saudi Arabia, at the NATO Naval Mine Warfare Centre of Excellence and Belgian technology company Exail in Ostend. Discussions focused on mine clearance, underwater drones, training, and the protection of freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz.

The significance of this cooperation has increased as maritime security has become directly connected to Saudi economic and energy security. The Strait of Hormuz remains critical to global energy markets, while the Red Sea and Bab al-Mandab are essential to Saudi Arabia's trade and export connectivity.

The continuing threats to shipping in both theatres demonstrate that maritime security is no longer simply a military concern but a central component of economic resilience.

Belgium's specialized capabilities can therefore complement Saudi Arabia's broader defense modernization and contribute to the Kingdom's objective of developing domestic expertise and technological capacity.

Political Coordination and Regional Stability Political dialogue provides an important foundation for the expansion of bilateral cooperation. Saudi Arabia and Belgium share an interest in international stability, respect for sovereignty, humanitarian protection, and the peaceful resolution of regional conflicts. Belgium's position within the European Union also gives bilateral political engagement an important multilateral dimension.

The Palestinian issue is one area in which Saudi and Belgian positions have increasingly intersected. Saudi Arabia has remained a central Arab and Islamic diplomatic actor on the Palestinian question, while Belgium has increasingly supported international efforts to preserve the two-state solution and strengthen the prospects for Palestinian statehood. This creates opportunities for continued coordination within European-Arab diplomatic frameworks.

Sudan provides another area in which the two countries' respective diplomatic roles can complement one another. Saudi Arabia has been directly engaged in mediation efforts and humanitarian diplomacy, while Belgium and the European Union possess significant diplomatic and humanitarian instruments. Coordination can therefore contribute to international efforts aimed at preserving Sudan's sovereignty, territorial integrity, and stability.

More broadly, Belgium can serve as an important European interlocutor for Saudi Arabia on regional issues, while Saudi Arabia's regional position provides Belgium with a valuable partner in understanding and addressing developments in the Gulf, Red Sea, and wider Middle East.

Conclusion

Saudi-Belgian relations are entering a period of renewed momentum, supported by expanding economic ties, Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 transformation, and a changing regional security environment.

The relationship's principal strength lies in the complementarity between Saudi Arabia's economic scale, investment capacity, regional influence, and development ambitions and Belgium's specialized capabilities in logistics, pharmaceuticals, healthcare, digital technologies, advanced industry, sustainability, and maritime security. The security dimension is also becoming more significant. At the same time, cooperation in healthcare, technology, logistics, and critical raw materials can support the Kingdom's broader objective of developing a diversified and technologically advanced economy.

Saudi-Belgian relations are consequently well positioned to move towards a more structured and substantive partnership. By combining Belgium's specialized industrial and technological capabilities with Saudi Arabia's transformation agenda, investment capacity, and regional position, the two countries can deepen bilateral economic relations while contributing to resilient supply chains, maritime security, technological development, and greater European-Saudi cooperation.

Dr. Abdulaziz Sager is the Founder & Chairman of the Gulf Research Center (GRC)