Elon Musk announced that Saudi Arabia has approved his satellite internet service, Starlink, for aviation and maritime use in the region during a White House-led investment forum on Tuesday. Starlink, owned and operated by Musk’s aerospace and defense contractor SpaceX, continues to expand its global reach. SpaceX recently began offering Starlink hardware free of charge outside the United States, aiming to attract more subscribers and strengthen its presence worldwide.
Musk also touched on his ambitions for the region, including his plans to introduce Tesla robotaxis in Saudi Arabia at an unspecified date. “I think it would be very exciting to have autonomous vehicles here in the kingdom, indeed, if you’re amenable,” Musk said, highlighting the potential of self-driving technology in the kingdom’s future. He also showcased Tesla’s Optimus humanoid robots, which are still in development, to President Donald Trump and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. Although Tesla has emphasized that self-driving cars and humanoid robots are key to its long-term profitability, production of the Optimus robot has not yet started, and the humanoid robotics market is highly competitive.
The event, which featured top U.S. executives from various industries including AI, defense, and semiconductor manufacturing, also saw Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang announce that the company would sell over 18,000 of its latest AI chips to Saudi Arabian company Humain. This announcement underscores the growing technological ties between the U.S. and Saudi Arabia, particularly in areas like artificial intelligence and defense.
Musk’s ventures in the kingdom go beyond Starlink and Tesla. His company xAI, which recently merged with X (formerly Twitter), has significant backing from Saudi Arabia’s Kingdom Holding Company and the private office of Prince Alwaleed bin Talal. This connection has sparked controversy in the past, with U.S. Senate Democrats calling for investigations into Saudi Arabia’s involvement in the buyout of X, citing national security concerns.
Meanwhile, President Trump secured a $600 billion commitment from Saudi Arabia to invest in the U.S. and agreed to a nearly $142 billion arms package. The visit to Saudi Arabia comes as the White House continues to negotiate trade deals amidst ongoing shifts in U.S. trade policies.
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