Saudi Arabia expanding missile plant to build larger missiles, study says

Key facts

• Saudi Arabia is expanding its ballistic missile factory at the al-Duwadimi complex.
• The expansion includes a new building at least twice the size of the existing casting pit facility.
• The new facility is likely for producing larger solid-fuel missiles.
• The expansion could be ready to start producing missiles by the end of 2026.

Saudi Arabia appears to be expanding its ballistic missile factory to produce larger solid-fuel missiles, according to researchers who analyzed commercial satellite images from April 2025 to September 2026. The expansion at the al-Duwadimi complex, located about 125 miles west of Riyadh, includes a new building at least twice the size of the existing facility, likely for casting missile motors. A second new building may be used for storing fuel or components. The researchers suggest the expansion could enable the production of longer-range missiles or those with heavier payloads, potentially altering the regional balance of power and complicating a US-Saudi civilian nuclear agreement.