Saudi Arabia will hold the third installment of the World Defence Show (WDS), to be held in Riyadh from the 8th to the 12th of February 2026. Under the guidance of King Salaman and organized by the General Authority for Military Industries (GAMI), WDS will be one of the Kingdom’s most impactful and innovative events for defense and international partnerships in light of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 and new strategies of WDS. An international defense meeting for the top leaders, suppliers, and innovators, the WDS has, in just 2 years from its inception in 2022, snowballed into one of the most important events of its kind, attracting 773.
Saudi Arabia was awarded the leadership role in the international defense conference
An international defense meeting for the top leaders, suppliers, and innovators, the WDS has, in just 2 years from its inception in 2022, snowballed into one of the most important events of its kind, attracting 773.
The Point Defense Conference, held in 2022, acquired in 2024 the SeaAir and Land Defense Conference and 441 official defense delegations and defense collaboration deals to the value of 26 billion Saudi Riyals. Over 106, 000 trade visits to the conference, Saudi Arabia was awarded the leadership role in the international defense conference.
Significant advancements to the defense conference are expected in 2026. Four exhibition halls are expected in 2026, a 58% growth from the first WDS. Advanced multi-stream forums will be showcased, the Government, Industry, Academia, and AI will be set up, and new innovative defense technologies will be showcased.
Saudi Arabia’s hosting of the WDS 2026 fully supports the Vision 2030 strategy in which Saudi Arabia aims to localize 50 % of defense spending within the decade.
The localization aims to lessen the foreign supplier dependency, build local defense manufacturing, and create of defense sector high-skill employment
Governor of GAMI Ahmad Al-Ohali stated that the royal patronage of WDS reflects the leadership in seeking partners with the global community and using the Kingdom’s strategic industrial strengths in a focused manner.
The exhibition will accelerate the two Saudi ambitions of becoming the top regional defense hub and the leader in the commercialization of advanced dual-use defense technology.
Access to the world’s defense leaders and ventures will collapse national and international barriers to drive innovation in Saudi Arabia.
Global collaborations and business impact
Every two years, the World Defense Show includes the most recent advancements in military technology and acts as an entry point for potential military partnerships between countries and businesses.
The next event in Saudi Arabia in 2026 is expected to bring more than 70 countries to the event and present trade as Saudi Arabia’s premier marketplace in the world for defense deals in cybersecurity, defense, and military interceptors.
His Royal Highness, Defense Minister, and Vice Chairman of the GAMI, Prince Khalid bin Salman, will be the first to speak. His presence further increases the importance of the event. Saudi Arabia’s defense endeavors, alongside international relationships, will place Saudi Arabia as a strong competitor in defense technology and a strong social force.
Economic importance and global politics
Riyadh’s increasing popularity in defense diplomacy shows its willingness to take on a bigger role in the area’s defense.
By spending money on new technologies in defense and creating new international relationships, Saudi Arabia wants to improve its defensive strategy and bring peace to the Middle East.
As the preparations start to ramp up, WDS 2026 is set to become a major event in the world’s defense industry. With bigger spaces, advanced new displays, and dedicated attention to building new partnerships happening. The event will improve Saudi Arabia’s strategic goals and future commercialization of defensive technologies.
