US Embassy Riyadh

The Department of State's U.S. Embassy Riyadh is a civilian diplomatic mission that funds contracts and cooperative agreements to advance U.S. foreign policy priorities in Saudi Arabia, with emphasis on public diplomacy, AI innovation, educational exchange, and cultural partnerships.

Contract activity at the mission is minimal. Eleven federal contract awards total $150 thousand in combined potential value since 2022, with $123 thousand obligated. The mission awarded 2 contracts in 2022, 5 in 2023, 2 in 2025, and 2 year-to-date in 2026. Four of the eleven awards (36 percent) carry no reported potential value, typical of Schedule task orders, BPA calls, modifications, or below-threshold purchase orders. Six distinct prime contractors have been awarded. The competitive base is highly fragmented: foreign awardees dominate the reported value and award count, with Miscellaneous Foreign Awardees holding both the largest single contract ($77 thousand) and the largest award count (6 awards total across multiple entries), followed by Emaar Al Amal Company (2 awards, value not reported), Middle East Internet CO. LTD. - Cyberia ($17 thousand), and Grow Life General Trading L.l.c ($16 thousand). All eleven awards use no set-aside designation.

Grant activity at the mission is substantially more active than contracting. Five recent cooperative-agreement opportunities solicited by the Public Diplomacy Section carry application deadlines between September 8 and September 14, 2026—all past due as of the current date. The UNITE program (DOS-SAU-2603-PD, deadline September 14, 2026) seeks a single U.S. academic implementing partner to manage a portfolio of four to five applied project teams in artificial intelligence, critical minerals, cybersecurity, emerging technologies, and workforce development, with individual seed awards up to $25,000 each and a mandatory 1:1 cost-share requirement. The U.S.-Saudi AI Research Commercialization Accelerator Program (DOS-SAU-2605-PD, deadline September 14, 2026) invites organizations to design and implement a 12-month initiative connecting Saudi AI innovators with U.S. technology and investment networks, including an intensive U.S. study tour and high-level commercialization summit. The AEIF 2026 Alumni Summit: Freedom 250 (PDS-SAU-FY26-07, deadline September 14, 2026) targets not-for-profit organizations, think tanks, and academic institutions to organize and host an exchange-alumni summit across Saudi Arabia's three U.S. missions. The MENA Freedom 250 NFL Flag Football Launch and Championship (DOS-SAU-2606-PD, deadline September 14, 2026) seeks implementation of a 12-month program culminating in a March 2027 regional championship in Riyadh. The AI Partnership & Exchange for Tech Leaders program (DOS-SAU-2602, deadline September 8, 2026) invites cooperative-agreement applications to connect Saudi AI leaders aged 20 to 30 with American experts through a two-week U.S. exchange in July 2027, with three budget scenarios for 12, 16, or 20 participants.