US Firm Picks Dammam for First Plant Outside America

American manufacturer Energy Recovery has selected Dammam for its first manufacturing plant outside the United States, in a move that expands Saudi Arabia's growing industrial project pipeline. The company will build a desalination technology factory near Dammam Second Industrial City, with production set to begin in the first quarter of 2027.

The new facility will span 3,750 square meters and is expected to produce 2,000 energy recovery devices These devices are used in desalination systems to cut energy consumption, a key priority in a country that relies heavily on desalinated water.

The project is projected to contribute SR137 million to Saudi GDP by 2033 and to create more than 50 direct jobs. Local production of specialized desalination components could also help build technical skills and strengthen the Kingdom's industrial base.

Why it matters

Choosing Dammam for a first plant outside the U.S. signals rising confidence among international manufacturers in the Kingdom's industrial cities and logistics. For residents in the Eastern Province, the investment points to new skilled roles and deeper supply chains in water technology, a sector directly tied to daily life in the region.

With production targeted for early 2027, the plant adds to a widening list of foreign-backed industrial projects taking shape across Saudi Arabia.

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