A kingdom on the rise
Between sand and skyline

Saudi Arabia: With the ambitious government program “Saudi Vision 2030,” launched by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in 2016, the kingdom is pursuing the goal of fundamentally diversifying its economy and breaking its dependence on oil. It is focusing on megaprojects such as the Red Sea Project, which will transform over 90 islands into luxury resorts, and the Diriyah Project, which will develop the historic heart and first capital of the country into a cultural center. Saudi Vision 2030 encompasses a wide range of projects focusing on various areas such as the economy, society, education, and the environment—but one thing remains the same: HERZ quality for efficient cooling.

Saudi Arabia: The oil giant

Saudi Arabia has the largest oil reserves in the world after Venezuela. As one of the largest oil producers and a leading member of OPEC (Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries), the country's entire economy is geared toward oil, which accounts for 70 percent of exports, followed by natural gas, making Saudi Arabia highly dependent on these resources. To escape this economic volatility in the long term, Saudi Arabia is focusing on realignment.

Megaprojects for a new era

As part of Saudi Vision 2030, a series of spectacular large-scale projects are being developed with the aim of transforming the country economically and repositioning it globally. In addition to foreign direct investment, the financial center of Saudi Vision 2030 is the Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF), which, according to its own figures, manages assets worth USD 925 billion. To date, around USD 1.3 trillion has been invested in the Saudi Vision 2030 projects.

The best-known project is called NEOM – a combination of the ancient Greek word “neo” for “new” and the Arabic word ‘mustaqbal’ for “future.” At the same time, the letter “M” also stands for Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who initiated the project. Consisting of several sub-projects, the project covers an area of 26,500 km² in northwestern Saudi Arabia. With sub-projects such as The Line – a 170 km long, linear, emission-free city without cars, powered entirely by renewable energy and designed to accommodate up to nine million people – and Trojena – a resort specialising in mountain tourism with a ski area, artificial freshwater lake, and high-end infrastructure – the NEOM megaproject is causing a stir worldwide.

“Many of the key projects within the Saudi Vision 2030 rely on our technology. The fact that HERZ products are being used in such central developments confirms our technical expertise and strong local partnership,” says Zoran Bankovic, HERZ Vice President.

With HERZ and soul

HERZ has been active on the Saudi market since 2014 and has steadily built up a solid foundation: with local partners, technically trained staff, high-quality products and the right feel for regional requirements. “The development was not a sprint, but a solid long-term project,” says Zoran Bankovic, adding, “We invested a lot of time in technical training and seminars, understanding standards and setting up sales structures—and that is paying off today.”

Compared to the European market, the requirements are clearly different: the climate demands durable, high-performance cooling systems. “The production of cold water for cooling systems is complex and ultimately very cost-intensive. That's why we're seeing a lot of interest in the precision and quality of our products”, explains Zoran Bankovic. The focus is on the all-rounder HerzCON: "Our direct connection for fan coils is a central component of numerous projects. The time-saving installation and the combination of several functions—control, regulation, filling, flushing, draining, shutting off, and filtering—in a compact unit are driving strong demand," says Zoran Bankovic. In addition, there are circuit regulating valves and differential pressure controllers in flange design for cold water systems.

Robust solutions – even for smaller dimensions

Due to the size and requirements of individual projects, flanged control and regulating valves are preferred in the Arab region. HERZ flanged valves offer decisive advantages here: they are pressure-stable, maintenance-friendly and easy to install, even with large nominal sizes. The robust design ensures reliable operation under high loads, especially in cold water systems. “We deliver globally and think locally—that is our strength. Our flange valves not only meet international standards, but are also optimally adapted to local requirements. We offer our control and regulating valves, such as differential pressure regulators and circuit regulating valves, in flange versions starting at DN 25”, emphasises Zoran Bankovic.

References that speak for themselves

HERZ is involved in a number of major projects in the Saudi market, including the Roshan urban development project in Jeddah, the Aramco Stadium in Dammam, a major sports infrastructure project, and the prestigious Red Sea Project, which focuses on sustainable tourism. HERZ solutions are also being used in the Masar Mecca pilgrimage project. “With growing urbanisation, a focus on sustainability, and the expansion of district cooling networks, Saudi Arabia offers a dynamic environment for innovative HVAC and sanitary technology. We want to continue to be part of this development—as a reliable partner with local understanding”, concludes Zoran Bankovic.