The World Defense Show (WDS) continues to cement its position as a leading international defense and security platform. The show actively supports Saudi Vision 2030’s goal to localize defense expenditures by 50% through strategic partnerships, expanded industry investments, and the constant progression of local capabilities.
Within this context, Al Defaiya conducted a new interview(*) with Mr. Mansour Al-Babtain, Vice President of Commercial Partnerships & Liaison at World Defense Show, where he spoke about the exhibition’s achievements, new features, and global performance for the upcoming third edition that will take place in Riyadh from 08-12 February 2026, and the vital role it plays in supporting innovation and defense localization.
Al Defaiya: The third edition of World Defense Show takes place under the theme “The Future of Defense Integration.” How does this theme translate into the substance and direction of WDS 2026?
Al-Babtain: The theme “The Future of Defense Integration” reflects both where the global defense environment is heading and Saudi Arabia’s long-term strategic ambition. Defense today is no longer defined by individual platforms or standalone systems, but by how effectively capabilities are integrated across domains, industries, and partnerships to deliver real operational advantage.
WDS 2026 brings integration to life by uniting all operational domains within one unified platform, while also connecting government decision-makers, industry leaders, investors, and innovators, allowing participants to see, engage with, and understand integration in practical, commercial, and industrial terms. Through programs such as Meet the KSA Government, WDS Connect, and the Delegations Program, participants engage directly with Saudi Arabia’s defense leadership and gain insight into how integration is shaping national capability development.
WDS 2026 is not simply showcasing technology; it is enabling collaboration, investment, and partnership that accelerate future-defining outcomes for the global defense community, with a strong sense of national pride.
Al Defaiya:The 2024 edition marked a significant step forward for World Defense Show. What distinguishes WDS 2026 as a new phase in the event’s evolution?
Al-Babtain: WDS 2026 represents a clear evolution from previous editions, both in scale and in strategic focus. The show has matured into a critical gateway for access and investment into Saudi Arabia’s rapidly transforming defense sector. This edition is the largest to date, with an expanded venue footprint, a more structured program architecture, and a deliberate emphasis on industrial outcomes rather than exhibition alone.
What distinguishes WDS 2026 is the way it connects ambition with execution. New and enhanced features, including the Saudi Supply Chain Zone, the Future Talent Program, and expanded engagement platforms, are designed to translate dialogue into tangible partnerships. The strong growth in participation and demand reflects international confidence in Saudi Arabia’s defense ecosystem and in the role WDS plays in shaping it.
WDS 2026 marks a transition from momentum to impact, reinforcing its position as one of the world’s most influential defense gatherings.
Al Defaiya: How does World Defense Show balance its role as a major international platform with its responsibility to serve Saudi Arabia’s national defense and industrial priorities?
Al-Babtain: World Defense Show derives its distinct identity from its ability to integrate national priorities with global engagement within a single, coherent platform. From its inception, the show was designed not only as an international exhibition, but as a strategic instrument that supports Saudi Arabia’s defense ambitions and long-term industrial development.
On the global stage, WDS brings together senior decision-makers, industry leaders, investors, and innovators from around the world, reinforcing the Kingdom’s position as a central hub for defense dialogue and cooperation. At the same time, every program and initiative within the show is closely aligned with Saudi Vision 2030, particularly in advancing localization, technology transfer, and national capability building.
This balance is achieved through close collaboration with key national stakeholders, including our founder, the General Authority for Military Industries (GAMI), and our strategic national partner, Saudi Arabian Military Industries (SAMI). WDS acts as a bridge between global opportunity and national ambition, ensuring that international participation translates into tangible industrial outcomes for the Kingdom.
The progress already achieved in localization, reaching 24.89% by the end of 2024, demonstrates the effectiveness of this integrated approach. World Defense Show is not just a global event hosted in Saudi Arabia; it is a Saudi-led platform that engages the world, reflecting the Kingdom’s confidence in its growing defense ecosystem and its commitment to building a globally competitive, future-ready industry.
Al Defaiya: World Defense Show continues to attract strong international interest. How does WDS position itself as a global gateway for strategic access and investment into the Kingdom?
Al-Babtain: World Defense Show has become a trusted gateway for companies and investors seeking structured access to Saudi Arabia’s defense sector. The Kingdom’s defense transformation is guided by clear priorities, strong governance, and long-term investment, and WDS provides the platform through which international stakeholders can engage with this ecosystem in a focused and effective way.
Through direct engagement with entities such as GAMI, SAMI, and key regulatory and procurement bodies, participants gain clarity on national capability priorities and investment pathways. Programs such as Meet the KSA Government, WDS Connect, and closed-door delegation briefings remove barriers to entry and provide a transparent roadmap for collaboration.
The scale of global participation at WDS 2026, with exhibitors and delegations from across the world, reflects growing confidence in Saudi Arabia’s defense vision and the role of WDS as a bridge between global expertise and national ambition.
Al Defaiya: How does World Defense Show support Saudi Vision 2030, particularly the goal of localizing 50% of defense expenditures by 2030?
Al-Babtain: World Defense Show is fundamentally aligned with Saudi Vision 2030 and plays a direct role in advancing the localization of defense expenditures. GAMI has confirmed that localization has already reached 24.89% by the end of 2024, demonstrating tangible progress toward the 50% target.
WDS acts as a crucial enabler of this progress by facilitating the industrial partnerships and technology transfer that underpin localization. The show brings global industry together with Saudi manufacturers, startups, and SMEs, enabling collaboration across manufacturing, sustainment, technology development, and human capital.
Initiatives such as the Saudi Supply Chain Zone place local capability at the center of the exhibition, while the Future Talent Program ensures Saudi talent is embedded across engineering, cybersecurity, manufacturing, and research and development pathways. By connecting policy ambition with industrial execution, WDS converts Vision 2030 objectives into measurable outcomes for the national defense ecosystem.
Al Defaiya: What message would you like to share with Defense Magazine readers and the wider defense community ahead of WDS 2026?
Al-Babtain: World Defense Show 2026 is where global innovation meets Saudi ambition. It is a platform built on partnership, trust, and shared purpose, bringing together governments, industry leaders, investors, and innovators to shape the future of defense integration.
This event is a collective achievement made possible by the support of our founder GAMI, our strategic national partner SAMI, and the wider defense community. We invite participants from across the world to engage with Saudi Arabia’s defense transformation, explore meaningful partnerships, and contribute to building a resilient, innovative, and integrated defense ecosystem.
As we look ahead, WDS will continue to strengthen its role as a catalyst for capability development, localization, and global collaboration, setting the foundation for an even stronger WDS 2028.
(*) This interview is also featured, in Arabic, in the January-February 2026 issue of Al Defaiya Magazine coinciding with World Defense Show (WDS 2026)
