Rolls-Royce and MAKEEN have agreed to the licensed production of mtu 2000 series marine engines in Saudi Arabia. The engines are to be manufactured and assembled locally, with a view to strengthening the domestic industry in the long term.
Rolls-Royce and MAKEEN have signed an Individual Licence Agreement (ILA) for mtu Series 2000 marine engines. This paves the way for the first licensed production of high-speed engines in Saudi Arabia.
The agreement permits the local manufacture and assembly of mtu Series 2000 engines and supports the localisation objectives of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030.
The new ILA builds on the framework licence agreement signed in November 2023. This established the legal and commercial framework for industrial cooperation between the two companies and forms the basis for the localisation of mtu products.
With the ILA for the 2000 Series marine engines, the partners can now establish the first local production capacities for one of Rolls-Royce Power Systems’ proven high-speed engine platforms.
According to the information provided, the agreement builds on the strong foundation that Rolls-Royce has established in Saudi Arabia since the 1960s and continues to expand.
“Saudi Arabia is investing heavily in industrial development, infrastructure and energy projects. With this agreement, we are combining proven mtu technology with local production capacity and supporting the Kingdom’s goal of building a strong domestic industry with advanced technology,” says Andreas Görtz, President of the Mobile & Sustainable Business Unit at Rolls-Royce Power Systems.
MAKEEN is investing in production capacity in Saudi Arabia to support the localisation of advanced technologies and strengthen the domestic industry, the company says. The initiative contributes to the Kingdom’s long-term goal of increasing local participation in key economic sectors.
Rolls-Royce is thus the first company to licence the local production of high-speed engines in Saudi Arabia. This opens up opportunities for future projects in strategically important areas, including maritime and naval applications such as high-speed ferries, coastguard vessels and patrol boats.
