What Is IKTVA?

IKTVA (In-Kingdom Total Value Add) is Saudi Aramco’s flagship local content programme designed to increase the proportion of goods and services sourced from within Saudi Arabia for Aramco’s operations. Launched in 2015, IKTVA targets raising local content in Aramco’s supply chain to 70 percent by 2025, with a longer-term ambition to reach higher levels. The programme is one of the most significant localisation initiatives in the global energy industry and a critical pillar of Vision 2030’s economic diversification strategy.

How IKTVA Works

IKTVA measures the percentage of Aramco’s total procurement spending that is attributed to in-Kingdom economic activity. This includes goods manufactured in Saudi Arabia, services performed by Saudi-based companies, Saudi national employment, training investment, and technology development within the Kingdom.

Aramco’s suppliers are scored on their IKTVA contribution. Companies with higher IKTVA scores receive preferential treatment in procurement evaluations. This creates a competitive incentive for international suppliers to localise operations, hire Saudi nationals, source from Saudi sub-suppliers, and invest in domestic manufacturing.

Programme Scope

Aramco’s annual procurement spending is measured in tens of billions of dollars, making IKTVA one of the largest local content programmes by value in the world. The programme covers all categories of Aramco procurement:

• Equipment and Materials: Drilling equipment, valves, pipes, pumps, instrumentation, electrical equipment
• Engineering and Construction: EPC contractors, project management, civil construction
• Oilfield Services: Drilling services, well completion, reservoir management, seismic surveying
• IT and Digital: Software, hardware, digital services, cybersecurity
• Professional Services: Engineering consulting, legal, financial advisory

Impact on International Companies

For international companies seeking to do business with Aramco, IKTVA compliance is not optional — it is a competitive requirement. Companies respond in several ways:

Manufacturing Localisation. International equipment manufacturers have established Saudi factories to produce goods previously imported. Examples include GE, Baker Hughes, Halliburton, and Schlumberger, all of which have expanded in-Kingdom manufacturing.

Joint Ventures. International companies partner with Saudi firms to create locally domiciled entities that qualify for IKTVA credit. Joint ventures combine international technology with Saudi market access and workforce.

Saudi Workforce Development. IKTVA scoring rewards Saudi national employment. International companies invest in recruiting, training, and retaining Saudi employees as part of their IKTVA strategy.

Technology Transfer. Higher IKTVA scores are awarded for technology development and R&D conducted in Saudi Arabia. International companies have established innovation centres and research partnerships with Saudi universities.

IKTVA Ecosystem

The programme has spawned a supporting ecosystem:

SPARK (King Salman Energy Park). A purpose-built industrial zone near Ghawar specifically designed to host energy industry manufacturers and service providers pursuing IKTVA compliance.

Namaat Programmes. Aramco’s Namaat industrial investment programmes target specific localisation opportunities in manufacturing, services, and technology.

IKTVA Forum. An annual conference that brings together Aramco, suppliers, and potential investors to discuss localisation opportunities and showcase Saudi supply chain capabilities.

Achievements

IKTVA has driven significant results since its launch:

• Local content has increased from approximately 35 percent to well above 50 percent
• Hundreds of international companies have established or expanded Saudi operations
• Tens of thousands of Saudi nationals have been employed in Aramco’s supply chain
• Manufacturing capacity within the Kingdom has expanded significantly in energy-related products

Challenges

Achieving 70 percent localisation requires that increasingly sophisticated products and services be sourced domestically, which demands advanced manufacturing capabilities, skilled workers, and competitive quality standards. Some highly specialised equipment has limited localisation potential. Cost competitiveness relative to imports from low-cost manufacturing countries remains a challenge in certain categories.

IKTVA is more than a procurement programme; it is an industrial policy that uses Aramco’s market power to build a Saudi energy services industry of global competitiveness. For international companies, it represents both a requirement and an opportunity — a gateway to the world’s most valuable energy supply chain.

See our SPARK Analysis and Oil and Gas Investment Guide.