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Nestled in the core of the al-Nafud desert, Riyadh stands as the capital and largest city of Saudi Arabia. Renowned as the cultural hub of the nation, it proudly exhibits the beauty, culture, and heritage of the country. Drawing over 5 million visitors annually, Riyadh offers a glimpse of the finest the Middle East has to offer.
It’s no secret that Riyadh is a smart city and is thus very technologically advanced. For anyone interested in cutting-edge defense technologies and who wants to explore the future of defense, the World Defense Show is a bucket-list event!
Wego has summarized everything you need to know about the World Defense Show 2026. Keep reading to learn more.
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What is the World Defense Show?
The World Defense Show is a biennial defense and security exhibition held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Founded by the General Authority for Military Industries (GAMI), this event serves as a platform to showcase technological developments in the defense sector from around the world.
World Defense Show attracts key defense figures, government officials, decision-makers, and thought leaders across all levels of the supply chain. Saudi Arabia’s geographic location and international presence make the Kingdom an ideal location for such a show. The event aligns with Saudi Vision 2030’s goal to localize 50% of military services and equipment expenditures.
The very first edition of the World Defense Show took place in 2022, and it emphasized the importance of interoperability in the line of defense.
World Defense Show 2026 news
In the second edition of the event, which took place over 4 days, 73 agreements were signed, including 17 industrial partnership agreements. Eng. The Governor of the General Authority for Military Industries (GAMI), Ahmed Al-Ohali, expressed his gratitude to King Salman, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, for his patronage and to Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for his paramount support.
In addition to thanking all participants, including local and international companies, Al Ohali invited attendees to Riyadh for the WDS in 2026, which will continue its mission to promote cooperation, innovation, and business development in the defense and security industries.
World Defense Show 2026 location
The World Dense Show takes place in Riyadh every year. It is 70 kilometers away from Central Riyadh and can be reached within 45 minutes by car using the main highway.
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World Defense Show 2026 dates
The second edition of the World Defense Show took place from 4 February to 8 February 2024. However, the 2026 World Defense Show dates have not been unveiled yet.
Please note that we will update the information as and when released by the officials.
World Defense Show exhibitor’s list
The 2024 World Defense Show wrapped up on 8 February, with 61 contracts signed worth 26 SAR billion. The event showcased 773 exhibitors and welcomed 441 official delegations from 116 countries, attracting 106,000 visitors.
The list of exhibitors includes AVC Defence, Arabian Defence, Hycomms, Advantage Austria, and more. To check out the full list of exhibitors, please visit the official website of the World Defense Show.
Please note that the 2026 World Defense Show exhibitor’s list has not been revealed yet. We will update the information as and when released by the officials.
