Microindustries

Economic and community projects

We believe that people are the most important source of energy, and we see their potential to shape the future. When given the right opportunities, people thrive, and can drive economic growth and prosperity for themselves, their communities, and the environment.

We provide people with access to such opportunities. 

Our initiatives to seed microindustries in the Kingdom are designed to support people to shape their economic future, and leverage traditional crafts and natural resources. We have identified several microindustries that we believe, with the right business model and support, can stimulate traditional crafts as viable businesses, and enable local communities to thrive. 

Coffee

The Jazan and Aseer regions in the south-western part of Saudi Arabia are the focus of our efforts to support the growth of the local coffee industry.

Our coffee initiative aims to equip coffee farmers with the needed tools to expand their production of Khawlani coffee beans, enabling them to earn a sustainable income and support their communities. 

Initially launched in 2016, our initiative first started in Al-Dayer, a mountainous area of Jazan. Since then, it has expanded to six additional areas: Al-Fifa, Al-Eydabi, Al-Ardhah, Al-Raith, Haroob, and the nearby Aseer province. 

Our aim is to help local coffee farmers thrive, by providing them with the required training and equipment they need to prosper. 

So far, more than 1,000 local coffee farmers have benefitted from our support, 

…which has included the planting of 200,000 seedlings and the use of smart and modern irrigation systems.

 In turn, we contributed to conservation through helping reduce water use by around 80 percent – which improves the health of the coffee beans and the lush environment in these two regions.

Our initiative aims to help farmers produce more than 800 tons of the renowned Khawlani coffee beans annually by the end of 2022.         

It will also support them to explore opportunities to commercialize coffee products and tap into the sector’s full potential. 

As part of this initiative, we signed a Memorandum of Understanding to build a center for coffee production, the National Coffee Development Center (NCDC). The Center aims to increase coffee production by improving its research and developing its local market. It will support coffee farmers during every stage of production and train them in best practices. The Center also aims to increase community awareness of local coffee production and elevate the Saudi coffee industry.

Honey

The south-western region of Saudi Arabia has a proud tradition of honey production that stretches back generations. From the Sarawat Mountain range to the great Tihama coastal plain,

... this stunning landscape contains a wide variety of plants, flowers, and trees. Their presence in this lush environment makes it ideal for honey production of the finest quality.

In 2016, we collaborated with multiple academic partners, including King Khaled University in Aseer. The aim of these collaborations was to explore opportunities to expand the production of honey, and its byproducts such as propolis, bee venom, and wax – which have medicinal properties. To tap into the area’s potential, we built queen bee stations which currently produce 120 tons of honey, and are expected to produce 150 tons annually by 2022.

Al-Bahah, one of the region’s cities, is now home to more than 3,000 beekeepers. Following the success of the project so far, we expanded our honey initiative to Aseer and Taif in 2019, and Al Madinah in 2021.

 

Textiles

Our initiative in the textiles industry supports our efforts to enable communities to shape their economic future. We partnered with local charities and businesses, and together launched a center to support women by equipping them with sewing skills. Located in Dammam, the Qetan Sewing Center so far trained 47 women and achieved a production capacity of around 82,000 items, including lines of medical linens and industrial uniforms. In Jazan, we launched the Imprint Factory for Clothing & Uniforms to support 50 beneficiaries, both male and female, by training them in the production of military and medical clothing. The factory is expected to reach financial sustainability within one year, which will guarantee a stable income for the beneficiaries.

Cosmetics

We found potential in the cosmetics industry to increase job opportunities for local communities in Taif. We partnered with Al Yakaza Charity and Al Kamal Roses Factory to establish the Roseyar Factory, which employs local women in the manufacture of cosmetics based on oil derived from locally-grown Taif roses. This involved training and recruiting 40 women to work in the factory, providing them with a sustainable income producing a range of body creams, lotions, perfumes, hand creams and soaps. In 2021, we launched the Roseyar online store to market and sell the products.

Olive oil products

Another initiative we launched in the cosmetics industry is one that enables local communities to earn a stable income from producing and selling olive oil products. We partnered with Al Mostawda Charitable Organization to establish Jofa, a factory that aims to increase job opportunities for local women from Doumat Al Jandal in Al-Jouf. The factory produces various olive-based products, including soaps and lotions derived from locally-grown olive trees.

From coffee farming to beekeeping, Aramco continues to expand its citizenship efforts and support the development of more sustainable, thriving microindustries. In turn, this development will help support local communities to shape their future and preserve local traditional crafts for future generations.