Armored Vehicles

Al-Dahna armored vehicle

Also known as
  • Al-Dahna
  • Al Dahna
  • Al-Dahna APV
  • Dahna APV

Al-Dahna is a Saudi-made 4x4 armored patrol and rapid-intervention vehicle manufactured by Armored Vehicles & Heavy Equipment Factory (AVF) under a GAMI-backed local-production contract for the Saudi Border Guard. Public sources describe it as a small-to-medium modular APV for protected mobility, field missions, security operations, and border-service training, with selectable armor levels, a 9-ton gross vehicle weight, a 160 kW four-cylinder engine, Allison automatic transmission, central tire inflation, independent suspension, and communications or armament options.

Al-Dahna armored vehicle, 4x4 armored patrol and rapid-intervention vehicle, Armored Vehicles
Image source: AL DAHNA
Profile / Specs

Profile

Origin
Saudi Arabia
Type
4x4 armored patrol and rapid-intervention vehicle
Service note
2020s-present
Designer
Armored Vehicles & Heavy Equipment Factory (AVF)
Produced
Local production contract announced 2020-07-01

Specifications

Configuration
Small-to-medium 4x4 armored patrol vehicle
Gross vehicle weight
9 tons
Engine
160 kW four-cylinder militarized engine
Torque
810 Nm
Transmission
Allison automatic transmission
Dimensions
About 5,000 mm long, 2,200 mm wide, and 2,065 mm high
Ground clearance
About 375 mm
Approach/departure angles
45-degree approach angle and 50-degree departure angle
Grade and side slope
60% maximum grade and 30% maximum side inclination
Mobility
Lockable differentials, independent suspension, durable military-specification tires, and central tire inflation system
Protection
Baseline STANAG 4569 Level 1 ballistic protection with upgrade options to Level 2 or FB7 of CEN 1522; floor protection against small antipersonnel grenades
Options
Unarmored liaison version for secure areas; mission equipment, communications, and armament fits described for public security displays
Design And Operator Context

Al-Dahna sits in AVF's protected-mobility line as a locally manufactured Saudi APV rather than a heavy combat vehicle. The documented procurement and public displays connect it most clearly to the Ministry of Interior and Border Guard mission set, while AVF and Al Jundi describe a modular design that can be adapted for defense, internal-security, reconnaissance, anti-armor, liaison, patrol, and rapid-intervention roles.

Border Guard procurement

GAMI's 2020 announcement tied Al-Dahna production to the General Directorate of Border Guard and included operator, technician, and trainer development.

Protection ladder

AVF lists baseline STANAG 4569 Level 1 ballistic protection with upgrade paths to Level 2 or FB7 of CEN 1522, plus limited floor protection against small antipersonnel grenades.

Mobility package

The vehicle combines a 160 kW four-cylinder engine, Allison automatic transmission, lockable differentials, independent suspension, military tires, and central tire inflation for off-road patrol use.

Sources: AL DAHNA; GAMI announces manufacturing of new armored vehicle; Saudization of Al Dahna military armored Vehicle; Ministry of Interior Displays Al-Dahna Armored Vehicle at World Defense Show 2024.

Timeline

Al-Dahna armored vehicle Key Events

  1. Al-Dahna shown at IDEX

    Al Jundi reported that Al-Dahna appeared in Saudi Arabia's pavilion at IDEX 2019, before the later Saudi Border Guard production contract.

    Sources: Saudization of Al Dahna military armored Vehicle

  2. Saudi local-production contract announced

    GAMI announced a contract between the General Directorate of Border Guard and MIC for Al-Dahna armored military vehicles, with manufacture awarded to AVF as an MIC subsidiary.

    Sources: GAMI announces manufacturing of new armored vehicle

  3. Ministry of Interior displays Al-Dahna at World Defense Show

    SPA reported that the Ministry of Interior displayed the Saudi-made Al-Dahna at World Defense Show 2024 as a four-wheel-drive vehicle for patrol and rapid-intervention tasks.

    Sources: Ministry of Interior Displays Al-Dahna Armored Vehicle at World Defense Show 2024

  4. Border Guard showcases Al-Dahna at Saudi Made Expo

    SPA reported that the General Directorate of Border Guard showcased Al-Dahna at Saudi Made Expo 2025, emphasizing field-mission and security-operation capabilities.

    Sources: Border Guard Unveils Al-Dahna Vehicle at Saudi Made Expo 2025

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Sources

AL DAHNAPublisher: Armored Vehicles & Heavy Equipment Factory (AVF) | Note: Official product page supporting manufacturer, vehicle role, gross vehicle weight, engine, mobility, protection options, and official image provenance. | Accessed: 2026-07-13Al-Dahna.jpgPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Supports fetchable image provenance for the Al-Dahna vehicle image. | Accessed: 2026-07-14GAMI announces manufacturing of new armored vehiclePublisher: General Authority for Military Industries | Note: Saudi government announcement supporting the 2020 local-production contract, Al-Dahna APV name, border-guard procurement context, and AVF manufacture under MIC. | Accessed: 2026-07-13Ministry of Interior Displays Al-Dahna Armored Vehicle at World Defense Show 2024Publisher: Saudi Press Agency | Note: Official news item supporting the Ministry of Interior display at World Defense Show 2024, Saudi-made identity, four-wheel-drive military vehicle description, patrol and rapid-intervention role, communications and armament equipment context, and operation across varied terrain. | Accessed: 2026-07-13Border Guard Unveils Al-Dahna Vehicle at Saudi Made Expo 2025Publisher: Saudi Press Agency | Note: Official news item supporting the Saudi Border Guard display of Al-Dahna at Saudi Made Expo 2025 and the vehicle's field-mission and security-operation context. | Accessed: 2026-07-13Armored Vehicles and Heavy Equipment FactoryPublisher: Saudipedia | Note: Saudi reference profile supporting AVF's Dammam location, MIC supervision, factory role in manufacturing and developing armored vehicles, and Al-Dahna local-production context. | Accessed: 2026-07-13Saudization of Al Dahna military armored VehiclePublisher: Al Jundi Journal | Note: Specialist defense article supporting IDEX 2019 appearance, local-user and security-sector context, mission applications, dimensions, ground clearance, approach and departure angles, gradeability, and side-slope figures attributed to AVF. | Accessed: 2026-07-13