On behalf of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, may God protect him, and under his generous patronage, His Royal Highness Prince Khalid bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, Minister of Defense and Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors of the General Authority for Military Industries, inaugurated the third edition of the World Defense Show 2026 in the capital, Riyadh. This event is the most prominent of its kind in the region, organized by the General Authority for Military Industries, and will continue until February 12, amidst a high-level international presence that reflects the Kingdom's growing position in the global defense scene.
Vision 2030 and the localization of military industries
The organization of the third edition of this exhibition comes as a culmination of the successes achieved by previous editions, and in line with the objectives of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030, which places the localization of military industries at the top of its priorities, with the aim of localizing more than 50% of the Kingdom’s military spending by 2030. The exhibition represents a strategic platform that brings together industry leaders and decision-makers to enhance international cooperation, exchange experiences, and transfer technology, which contributes to building a sustainable national defense system capable of meeting the operational needs of the military and security forces.
Diplomatic efforts and strategic partnerships
The opening ceremony featured a visual presentation showcasing the evolution of the defense sector, followed by impressive aerial and static displays. On the sidelines of the exhibition, His Highness the Minister of Defense expressed his pleasure, via his official account on the "X" platform, at meeting with defense ministers and senior officials from brotherly and friendly nations. His Highness affirmed that the meetings included fruitful discussions on the future of the defense and security industry, and reviewed the promising opportunities the exhibition offers for enhancing international peace and security. His Highness also witnessed the signing of several memoranda of understanding and agreements aimed at strengthening industrial and military partnerships.
Launch of high-quality projects for SAMI Company
In a move reflecting the rapid development of national industry, Prince Khalid bin Salman toured the exhibition facilities, which included more than 1,486 exhibitors from 89 countries. During the tour, His Highness inaugurated several strategic projects at the Saudi Arabian Military Industries (SAMI) pavilion, most notably the SAMI Ground Systems Company, the SAMI Ground Systems Industrial Complex, and the HEET armored vehicle project. These inaugurations underscore the Kingdom's commitment to developing globally competitive local manufacturing capabilities and supporting the national economy by diversifying income sources and creating quality job opportunities for Saudi nationals.
The World Defence Exhibition is gaining special importance in light of global security challenges, as it provides an ideal environment for the integration of defense systems on land, sea, air, space and cyber security, thus enhancing the readiness of participating countries to face future threats.
