We Continue to Explore New Avenues for Collaboration: Abdullah Al Khater, Barzan Holdings CEO

Barzan Holdings, founded seven years ago, has had a significant impact on Qatar’s defence industry and has contributed to bolstering the country’s autonomy through the development of local capabilities and the localization of supply chains, says Abdullah Al Khater, CEO.

“The global partnerships and impactful collaborations we forged over the years have facilitated knowledge exchange and contributed to the long-term development of Qatar’s human capital and Qatari Armed Forces capabilities driven by our growing investments into innovative defence technologies,” says Al Khater.

Read on.

Barzan Holdings was founded in 2016. How much of a difference has the company made in terms of advancing the capabilities of Qatar’s domestic defence industry?

Our company has had a significant impact on Qatar’s defense industry since it was founded 7 years ago. The global partnerships and impactful collaborations we forged over the years have facilitated knowledge exchange and contributed to the long-term development of Qatar’s human capital and Qatari Armed Forces capabilities driven by our growing investments into innovative defense technologies.

Today, Barzan Holdings boasts an impressive portfolio of entities including wholly owned subsidiaries Barzan Maintenance Shield (BMS), Barzan Industrial Group (BIG), our engineering and manufacturing arm, and Barood Ammunition Factory in addition to majority-owned subsidiary Qsur, as well as BINDIG and Rheinmetall Barzan Advanced Technologies (RBAT), our joint ventures with Beretta Holding, and German technology group Rheinmetall, respectively.

These entities have spearheaded the development of cutting-edge technologies, featuring products ranging from locally manufactured modular weapons by BIG and high-quality small caliber ammunition by Barood, to tactical gear by QSUR, and state-of-art portable weapon systems by BINDIG.

These technologies have taken center stage at this year’s edition of DIMDEX, where Barzan Holdings’ Engineering and Systems team is showcasing our collection of unmanned surface vehicles (USV), unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) and unmanned ground vehicles (UGV) integrated systems.

BMS, on the other hand, offers comprehensive maintenance, repair and overhaul services, providing optimized equipment, life-cycle planning, logistics and spare parts management to all military platforms.

Leveraging these strategic partnerships with internationally recognized original equipment manufacturers and service providers, Barzan Holdings has contributed to bolstering Qatar’s autonomy through the development of local capabilities and the localization of supply chains.

What is the kind of impact that Barzan Holdings has had on the military capabilities of the Qatari Armed Forces?

Over the years, Barzan Holdings has grown into a knowledge hub and key contributor to the development of next generation technologies through its global portfolio of investments and joint ventures, capitalizing on top-notch expertise in the fields of air, land, and sea security, and consultancy, and combat systems to address the needs of different military and security sectors.

Our collaborations include many highly renowned and pioneering defense and security businesses. This enabled us to acquire and develop the most innovative technologies and devise the best practices to ensure Qatar’s self-sufficiency in terms of national protection.
One example of this is RBAT, our joint venture with German technology group Rheinmetall, which provides a comprehensive solution to counter the emerging threats posed by drone proliferation. Under this collaboration, we have been developing a Qatari System Integration - command and control software - for the deployment of autonomous combat vehicles. The system are on display at Barzan Holdings’ pavilion.

Has there been a significant increase in the number of domestic defense companies in Qatar since Barzan Holdings was founded?

By facilitating the development of local capabilities and enabling the localization of supply chains, Barzan Holdings has paved the way for the long-term development of Qatar’s defense and security industries, encouraging investments into innovative solutions that create sustainable value for the country and its partners.

How successful has Brazan Holdings been in attracting foreign investment in Qatar’s domestic defense industry? Do you prefer joint ventures to direct investment by foreign firms?

Barzan Holdings’ efforts to attract investment into Qatar’s defense industry have paid off over the years as we managed to expand our partnerships and cement our position as the commercial gateway for Qatar’s military industry. In this regard, Barzan Holdings prioritizes joint ventures which facilitate internal capability development through the transfer of technology and knowledge.

This is evident in our latest plans to launch a new factory by Bindig, our joint venture with Beretta Holding, while we continue to explore new avenues for collaboration across the region in line with our commitment to expanding our strategic partnerships worldwide.
In this context, we have been exploring impactful collaborations with the Saudi Arabian Military Industries and Turkey’s Defence Industry Agency, which will reflect positively on Qatar’s industrial ecosystem and support our long-term goal of fostering research development and knowledge transfer.

What makes Qatar an attractive market for international companies?
As a commercial gateway for Qatar’s defense and security industry, Barzan Holdings provides support for topflight operators and promising SMEs to create a tailor-made, robust defense and security industry in Qatar with a focus on delivery and execution.
Our focus on capacity building and enhancing local knowledge in the defense and security sectors through research alliances also provides another incentive for companies to establish a presence in Qatar, one of the safest and most stable countries in the region with a vibrant economy and business-friendly environment.

Barzan Holdings acts as a commercial gateway for the defense industry in Qatar. In addition to attracting foreign investment in Qatar’s defence sector, do you also promote investment by Qatar defense companies in other markets?

Barzan Holdings is always exploring new opportunities to advance its objectives and create sustainable value for Qatar and its partners worldwide. In this context, we continue to prioritize partnerships that extend beyond the supply of products and services to forge long-term meaningful connections that lead to productive collaborations on new technological solutions and innovations both in Qatar and overseas.

How significant is the recent agreement that Barzan Holdings signed with the Saudi Military Industries Company (SAMI)? How will the partnership benefit Qatar and the wider region?

Our partnership with the Saudi Military Industries company marks a significant achievement for the regional defense industry. The agreement, which represents one of the first defense industrial collaborations among GCC defense companies, will help synergize our defense industrial base by drawing benefits from mutual lessons to satisfy our end-users’ requirements. The partnership will feature the development of joint defense and security products, while we explore together opportunities in defense- related Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) activities as well as joint investments and programs in the defense and security domains.

What are some of the strategic goals for the company? Is making Qatar an arms exporter one of your long-term goals?

Barzan Holdings was established with the mission to support the long-term development of Qatar’s human capital and armed forces in a bid to strengthen the country’s sovereignty and ensure self-sufficiency in terms of national protection. This is mainly achieved through global partnerships that foster R&D, knowledge transfer, and investments into innovative defense technologies that create sustainable value for Qatar in line with the country’s economic diversification and sustainability objectives as outlined in the National Vision 2030.

In this context, we continue to empower SMEs to open new industries within the country and create fresh career paths and learning and development opportunities. Capacity building and human development also remain at the core of our strategy. Our operations lend special attention to enhancing local knowledge and supporting our staff to reach their full potential.

How excited are you to be a sponsor and major exhibitor at DIMDEX 2024? What are some of the products and capabilities that the company is highlighting at the event?

Barzan Holdings has developed a strong partnership with DIMDEX dating back to the exhibition’s launch in 2018, when we officially signed partnership agreements with multiple regional and international defense companies with the aim of bolstering Qatar’s military capabilities and enhancing its security.

As Qatar’s leading global defense and security investment group, it is natural for us to be thrilled about our participation in DIMDEX with whom we share the objectives of enhancing the region’s security, primarily through the exchange of knowledge and expertise to ensure supply chain continuity and uninterrupted global trade.

With hundreds of exhibitors from over 90 countries, the event offers a key opportunity to showcase our cutting-edge technologies and to explore new deals and partnerships that cement our position as a global industry player and contribute to maintaining stability in international waters

This year, Barzan Holdings’ Engineering and Systems team will showcase our collection of unmanned service vehicles (USV), unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) and unmanned ground vehicles (UGV) integrated systems. We will also seek to explore new deals and partnerships that cement our position as a global industry player and advance Qatar’s strategic priorities, including safeguarding the security and integrity of the maritime sector.