Inspirational Figures

Thamer Al-Muhid, the Man Behind SAMI’s Fresh Era

Published

2 days ago

19th February 2025

Huda Az

Engineer Thamer Al-Muhid is an esteemed figure with significant real-world experience in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and a well-known brand in global markets.

Notably, the Board of Directors appointed him as CEO of Saudi Arabian Military Industries Company (SAMI), led by Prince Khalid bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, on February 1, 2025, marking the start of a new era of accomplishments and innovation.

So, who is Thamer Al-Muhid?

His Studies and Profession

Having earned a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from King Saud University, a Master of Science in Business Administration with a focus on Mergers and Acquisitions from the Technical University of Vienna, and another Master of Science in Business Administration with a focus on Global Management from Thunderbird School of Global Management in the United States, engineer Thamer bin Mohammed Al-Muhaid has a distinguished academic background.

Eng. Al-Muhaid is a superb leader with more than 30 years of real-world experience in international markets. Since 2020, he has served as the CEO and Managing Director of the Saudi Chemical Holding Company, a well-known joint-stock investment firm established in 1972 that produces explosives for military and civilian use. In addition, it has activities in the medical field.

The company, which has five subsidiaries—three in the pharmaceutical industry—underwent a strategic transition to improve long-term growth. The Board of Directors accepted Al-Muhaid’s resignation as CEO on November 5, 2024, but he continued to serve on the Board.

Al-Muhaid made significant contributions to the Royal Commission for Jubail and Yanbu before joining Saudi Chemical Holding Company. He also held many high-level roles at various famous firms, such as Almarai Company, Saudi Basic Industries Corporation (SABIC), and SABIC-GE.

Furthermore, Al-Muhaid serves on the boards of several governmental and business organisations. Since May 2023, he has been a member of the Saudi-Thai Business Council’s Executive Committee. Since May 2024, he has been a member of the National Industrial Development Council.

These roles demonstrate his broad background in strategic initiatives, international leadership, mergers, and acquisitions, as well as his capacity to propel organisations to success and long-term expansion.

Awards

During the 2024 Global Awards ceremony, Eng. Thamer Al-Muhaid received the Arab Professional Excellence Award in addition to being recognised as one of the top 100 Arab CEOs.

Additionally, he accomplished a noteworthy feat when Forbes Middle East magazine placed him 67th in their list of the most prominent CEOs in the Middle East that same year. On the same list, he came in at number 89 in 2022.

Forbes’ list of the most innovative firms in collaboration with the Saudi Research, Development, and Innovation Authority also featured Al-Muhid’s company, validating his inspirational and inventive vision. Forbes’ ranking of the most influential healthcare CEOs for 2022 placed Al-Muhid at number 15.

Challenges in His New Role

The Saudi Arabian Military Industries Company was established in 2017 under the leadership of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz. It is a leading national business that supports the growth and advancement of the military industries in Saudi Arabia, with Al-Muhid as its CEO.

Thamer Al-Muhaid’s new role presents several issues that demand creative problem-solving and a strategic vision, chief among them being developing the Saudi Arabian Military Industries (SAMI) capacity to produce defence gear and weapons domestically.

Since the Kingdom wants to rank among the top 25 nations in the world for defence industry by 2030, he must also successfully contribute to the realisation of Saudi Vision 2030 in his new position. Al-Muhid must thus consider carefully how to allocate resources and efforts to fulfil these goals.

Also, Al-Mahid prioritises foreign alliances with multinational defence firms to enhance collaboration and access to advanced technology and knowledge, ultimately improving SAMI’s global competitiveness and fostering a robust industrial foundation, thus enhancing the Kingdom’s competitiveness.

Developing national capabilities in the area of military manufacture is essential. To help create a new generation of specialised skills, this calls for creating efficient programs to train Saudi engineers and provide new employment possibilities in the defence sector.

Lastly, SAMI has to make investments in fields like cybersecurity, drones, and artificial intelligence due to the quick advancements in military technology. The expenditures will be crucial for establishing a secure and sustainable future for the Kingdom, beyond merely enhancing its defence capabilities.

Thamer Al-Muhaid is set to lead SAMI towards a brighter future, demonstrating his success in achieving the company’s ambitious goals. His stellar management and strategic planning record make him an ideal candidate for this significant role in the coming years.