World Defense Show 2026 concludes in Riyadh with record participation and deals

SPA

Riyadh, February 13, 2026 (Saudi Arabia Breaking News) – The third edition of the World Defense Show 2026 concluded on Thursday in Riyadh after five days of international engagement. The biennial exhibition, organized by the General Authority for Military Industries (GAMI) under the patronage of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, attracted record participation from the global defense sector.

The event featured 1,486 exhibitors from 89 countries, 513 official delegations from 121 countries, and 137,000 visitors. During the show, 60 military and defense agreements were signed, with a combined value of approximately SAR33 billion. The exhibition spanned 272,500 square meters across four fully occupied halls.

World Defense Show CEO Andrew Pearcey highlighted the platform’s strategic importance, noting that the event demonstrated Saudi Arabia’s ability to convene the international defense community, facilitate partnerships, and showcase technological innovation. The show included 355 live demonstrations, more than 700 static military assets, and aerial displays from F-15, F-16, F-35, and Typhoon aircraft, alongside performances by the Saudi Hawks and Korean Black Eagles.

The event also featured 70 thought leadership sessions with 151 speakers, focusing on air, land, sea, space, and multi-domain defense system integration. Initiatives such as the Future Talents Program and the Saudi Supply Chain Zone highlighted the Kingdom’s commitment to human capital development, industrial capacity building, and supply chain advancement.

Preparations are already underway for the 2028 edition, which will build on the achievements of 2026 and further support Saudi Vision 2030 objectives.