Abukhaled became CEO of SAMI in August 2020. Established in 2017, SAMI is a subsidiary of the Public Investment Fund and develops military products for Saudi defense industries. In March 2022, SAMI signed three financing agreements for approximately $1.9 billion to contribute to future defense-related projects, including infrastructure development, acquisitions, and working capital financing. Abukhaled was previously CEO of Northrop Grumman Middle East, Deputy Minister for Industrial Affairs at the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, and the president and CEO of General Electric in Saudi Arabia and Bahrain.