World Defense Show 2026 closed today following five days of unprecedented international engagement and exceptional results. The biennial exhibition, founded by the General Authority for Military Industries (GAMI), held its third edition under the patronage of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud in Riyadh, attracting record participation from the global defense community.

At the closing Media Briefing, His Excellency Eng. Ahmed bin Abdulaziz Al-Ohali, Governor of GAMI and Chairman of the World Defense Show Supervisory Committee, outlined the show’s key achievements, its strategic accomplishments, and its effective contribution to advancing Saudi Vision 2030’s objectives for enabling, developing, and localizing the military and defense industries sector.

HE Al-Ohali said: “The results of World Defense Show 2026 reflect the Kingdom’s continued progress in building a nationally competitive global military industries sector. The agreements and partnerships we witnessed during the show reflect Saudi leadership in military industries and contribute to achieving Saudi Vision 2030 objectives.”

HE Al-Ohali announced the show’s key results and achievements over five days, with record participation represented by 1,486 exhibitors from 89 countries, alongside 513 official delegations from 121 countries, attended by 137,000 visitors.

During the show, 60 military and defense deals were announced with a total value of approximately 33 billion Saudi Riyals, reflecting the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s growing position as a global center for defense partnerships, investment, and technology transfer.

The exhibition spanned 272,500 square meters, a 58% increase over the first edition, across four fully sold-out exhibition halls.

HE Al-Ohali extended his appreciation to all government entities and local and international companies participating in the third edition of the show, emphasizing that it successfully connected industry leaders and innovators from around the world. He noted that this edition opened new pathways for global markets to engage with Saudi Arabia’s defense and security industry, and that World Defense Show has established itself as a premier global platform for dialogue, knowledge exchange, business development, and showcasing cutting-edge innovations and technologies.

Andrew Pearcey, CEO of World Defense Show, emphasized the platform’s strategic value: “World Defense Show 2026 has demonstrated the Kingdom’s ability to convene the international defense community around shared priorities of integration, cooperation, and long-term capability development. This year's outcomes confirm the show's position as a platform where national ambition, industry excellence, and technological innovation converge.”

The show attracted unprecedented media attention, with more than 1,453 local, regional, and international journalists providing on-site coverage, alongside global broadcast networks and digital platforms. This level of engagement reinforces World Defense Show's status as one of the most closely followed defense events globally.

He indicated that the show featured 355 live demonstrations and held 70 thought leadership sessions across three main theaters with 151 speakers, during which the latest defense capabilities were showcased in the domains of air, land, sea, space, and security, while highlighting the future of multi-domain defense system integration.

Pearcey noted that participation from the global defense industry reached new heights, with all of the world's top 10 defense companies exhibiting at WDS 2026. “This level of engagement reflects growing international confidence in Saudi Arabia’s military industries sector and in World Defense Show as a strategic platform for agreements, partnerships, and technology transfer.”

World Defense Show 2026 featured one of the most comprehensive operational display programs of any global defense exhibition. The show delivered 355 live demonstrations alongside more than 700 static military assets on display. The air program included 63 static aircraft and 25 aircraft performing live flight demonstrations, featuring F-15, F-16, F-35, and Typhoon aircrafts. The Saudi Hawks and Korean Black Eagles delivered impressive aerial displays while dedicated zones showcased naval capabilities and unmanned systems, demonstrating operational integration and the evolution of multi-domain defense capabilities.

World Defense Show 2026 also focused on talent development and advanced technologies through targeted initiatives including the Future Talents Program and the Saudi Supply Chain Zone, underscoring the Kingdom's commitment to human capital development, supply chain advancement, and industrial capacity building.

With the conclusion of the 2026 edition, GAMI has commenced preparations for World Defense Show 2028, which will build on this year's achievements while further supporting Vision 2030 objectives and strengthening Saudi Arabia’s central role in the global defense industry