World Defense Show 2026 sees record demand with 96 pc booking

World Defense Show says that nearly all of its exhibition space, about 96 pc precisely has been booked

With about six months to go, the World Defense Show (WDS), the premier defence industry show in Saudi Arabia, has received a robust response from exhibitors, with 96 pc of its exhibition space already booked and participation from 80 countries.

World Defense Show (WDS) founded by Saudi Arabia’s defence industry regulator, the General Authority for Military Industries (GAMI), will see participation by defence industry majors from over 80 countries across the world as the event gains global importance, with its third edition scheduled for February 8 to 12, 2026.

In a press statement World Defense Show says that nearly all of its exhibition space, about 96 pc precisely has been booked, showing a huge demand from defence companies around the world.

According to the statement, this year, 925 exhibitors are expected to participate, up from 773 in 2024. The United Kingdom remains a key contributor, with top companies like BAE Systems, Rolls-Royce, and Rheinmetall UK confirmed to showcase their solutions. The UK Pavillion alone has grown by 15 pc compared to the previous show, reflecting growing ties between the UK defence sector and Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 goals.

The statement adds that under the theme The Future of Defense Integration, WDS 2026 will focus on cutting-edge technologies such as Artificial Intelligence, Unmanned Systems and Robotics.

“The Future Defence Lab will give attendees a deep understanding of emerging trends that will shape the defence landscape, our goal is to inspire the next generation of defence innovators and foster connections that lead to future collaborations and partnerships, bridging the gap between startups, government and academic institutions, Quantum Technologies and Cyber Security,” says Andrew Pearcey, CEO, World Defense Show.

“The overwhelming demand for exhibition space at WDS 2026, with three out of four halls already sold out, leaving only 4 pc of space available. This underscores the show’s rapid ascent as a pivotal global platform for the defence community, our presence here at DSEI allows us to engage directly with key stakeholders and highlight how WDS is accelerating future-defining outcomes for the global defence community,” he adds