World Defense Show

World Defense Show (WDS) is a global platform in the defense and security industry, organised by the General Authority for Military Industries (GAMI) in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia once every two years in the city of Riyadh, under the patronage of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud. The first edition was launched in 2022 as a global platform bringing together government entities, companies, experts, and decision-makers in this sector, with the aim of showcasing the latest technologies and innovations, strengthening international cooperation, and supporting the targets of Saudi Vision 2030 towards developing and localising domestic military industries. 

Importance

The World Defense Show works to strengthen global cooperation in the defense and security industry by showcasing the latest innovations and building high-quality partnerships that support growth and development in this vital sector, and by consolidating Saudi Arabia’s position as a global hub for military industries and a destination for hosting specialized international exhibitions and events. As part of Saudi Vision 2030, Saudi Arabia targets localizing 50% of government spending on military equipment and services, and the exhibition contributes to supporting these targets.

Objectives

The World Defense Show aims to be a global platform that brings together the defense and security industry audience in one place within Saudi Arabia, and to strengthen partnerships and networking in this sector by providing the opportunity to exchange ideas, discuss challenges, showcase the latest solutions and technological innovations, and open investment horizons for manufacturers and suppliers from around the world, supporting technological progress, the localization of military industries, and the development of local capabilities in the defense and security industry sector.

Target audience

The World Defense Show is a platform that brings together an elite group of global defense and security industry leaders, defense companies, industry experts, and Saudi government entities to present modern developments and technologies in the field of defense and security.

World Defense Show 2022

The first edition of the World Defense Show was held from March 6–9, 2022. The exhibition was inaugurated by His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed Bin Salman Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince, Prime Minister, and Chairman of the Board of the GAMI, with the participation of 600 exhibitors from forty-two countries and 100 military delegations from forty-five countries.

The edition attracted around 65,000 visitors and focused on the concept of integrated defense systems. It witnessed the signing of contracts and agreements in the defense and security industry and military procurement with a total value of around SAR21 billion, including projects linked to localization and capacity building in the military industries sector. The exhibition contributed to enhancing cooperation between Saudi and global defense entities, in addition to supporting investment opportunities in military industries and defense technologies. Around 2,400 students participated through the “Future Talents” program, from diverse disciplines including computer science, sciences, technology, and engineering. The program showcased training and professional development opportunities in the defense and security industry sector. The exhibition also included specialized programs focusing on innovation, emerging technologies, and developing national competencies in this sector. 

World Defense Show 2024

The second edition of the World Defense Show was held in Riyadh from February 4–8, 2024 under the theme “Equipped for Tomorrow”. It was inaugurated by His Royal Highness Prince Khalid Bin Salman Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Minister of Defense and Vice Chairman of the Board of GAMI. The exhibition saw the participation of 773 exhibitors from seventy-six countries, including forty-six companies among the world’s top 100 defense companies, 441 official delegations representing 116 countries, and 3,000 members, including 100 members at ministerial rank.

The exhibition attracted around 106,000 visitors from 141 countries and witnessed the signing of sixty-one defense procurement contracts worth SAR26 billion, as well as seventy-three agreements and memoranda of understanding. These included industrial partnerships linked to localizing defense industries and building national capabilities. It also contributed to strengthening international defense cooperation, supporting technology transfer opportunities, developing supply chains, and enhancing partnerships in the defense and security industry in Saudi Arabia.

The exhibition’s activities included panel sessions and specialized programs that supported knowledge exchange and opened horizons for investment and networking with government entities and decision-makers. The edition featured eleven live ground shows and fifty-two air displays carried out by thirty-eight aircraft, as well as 178 ground exhibits within a site specially designed to showcase operational capabilities.

The exhibition also hosted ninety sessions delivered by 175 speakers, attracting around 4,000 participants. The “Saudi Government Entities Meeting” program contributed to supporting investment opportunities and strengthening communication with decision-makers, with the participation of government entities and leaders of the defense and security industry sector.

The second edition also saw the holding of the “Future Talents” program, with the participation of 3,000 students from eighty academic institutions, and fifty speakers participating in eighteen specialized sessions that addressed innovation, emerging technologies, and future job opportunities in the defense and security industry sector,

The exhibition recorded the participation of 954 media professionals, the production of 11,071 media items, the completion of 8,350 investment opportunities, and the holding of 2,026 business meetings between suppliers and buyers via the exhibition platform.

World Defense Show 2026

The third edition of the World Defense Show was held from February 8–12, 2026 under the slogan “The Future of Defense Integration”. It was inaugurated by His Royal Highness Prince Khalid Bin Salman Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Minister of Defense and Vice Chairman of the Board of GAMI, with the participation of 1,486 exhibitors from eighty-nine countries, as well as government entities and national and international companies. 

The third edition witnessed the participation of 513 official delegations representing 121 countries, comprising 6,300 delegation members, including 169 ministers and chiefs of staff. It also attracted 137,000 visitors from 149 countries, the world’s top ten defense companies, as well as representation from sixty-one companies among the world’s top 100 defense companies.

The edition recorded sixty procurement contracts valued at SAR33 billion, reflecting Saudi Arabia’s status as a global hub for defense partnerships, investment, and technology transfer. The exhibition area reached 272,827 m², an increase of 58 percent compared to the first edition. An event site of 800,000 m² was designed, including a 2.7 km runway to support live shows and air operations.

The exhibition brought together a number of global defense companies and showcased capabilities across the five defense domains: air, land, sea, space, and security. It featured 389 live demonstrations carried out across twenty-six operational locations, with the participation of around 400 personnel, 700 pieces of equipment and outdoor platforms, 113 static air platforms, and 500 arrival flights to the air show area. The exhibition hosted sixty-eight specialized sessions on defense integration, innovation, industrial development, and future operational capabilities, with the participation of 151 speakers and an attendance of 5,800 participants.

Innovative zones and programs were launched, including the “Future Defense Lab”, which included seventy-six companies from twelve countries and focused on advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence, autonomous systems, and future operational solutions; the “Unmanned Systems Zone”, which featured 100 unmanned platforms and systems across the five defense domains: air, land, sea, space, and security; and the “Naval Zone”, which presented 120 naval exhibits from ten countries and twenty-one companies.

The exhibition strengthened communication between government entities, manufacturers, and international partners through several programs, including the “Meet the KSA Government” program, which attracted 1,200 participants, alongside dedicated networking and investment initiatives to support defense supply chains and partnerships in the defense and security industry sector.

The exhibition also included talent development initiatives, including the “Future Talents” program, which brought together around 6,000 students, supporting the next generation of local competencies and enhancing Saudi capabilities in line with the targets of Saudi Vision 2030. 100 entities participated, along with fourteen exhibiting partners, and 12 sessions within the intellectual leadership sessions addressed education, innovation, and future job opportunities in this sector. The exhibition recorded the participation of 1,453 media professionals from 222 media organizations across twenty-eight countries.