PARIS: World Defense Show, founded by Saudi Arabia’s General Authority for Military Industries, is strengthening its international presence through participation in Eurosatory 2026 in Paris, as preparations continue for its fourth edition in Riyadh in January 2028.
During Eurosatory, held from June 15–19, World Defense Show announced a series of partnerships aimed at expanding international participation.
Among them is an agreement with Global Affairs Canada to establish the first Canadian National Pavilion at World Defense Show 2028, providing a dedicated platform for Canadian defense and security companies.
World Defense Show also signed an agreement with Development East Manufacturing Holding Co., which joins the exhibition as a premium partner.
The announcements come as the show builds on the success of its 2026 edition and seeks to increase global participation in 2028.
Mansour Al-Babtain, vice president of commercial partnerships and liaison at World Defense Show, emphasized the importance of maintaining engagement with the international defense community between editions.
“Events such as Eurosatory allow us to stay engaged with the international defense community between editions of World Defense Show,” Al-Babtain told Arab News.
“The defense sector is evolving rapidly, and these gatherings provide valuable opportunities to understand emerging priorities, strengthen relationships, and continue conversations with industry leaders, government representatives, and partners from around the world.”
For World Defense Show, international engagement is not limited to the week of the event itself. It is an ongoing process of dialogue and relationship-building that helps ensure the platform remains relevant, responsive, and globally connected.
“As we look ahead to World Defense Show 2028, maintaining that global presence is an important part of sustaining the momentum generated by the 2026 edition,” Al-Babtain added.
The third edition of World Defense Show, held in Riyadh in February 2026, recorded its largest participation to date. The event welcomed 1,486 exhibitors from 89 countries, 513 official delegations representing 121 countries, and more than 137,000 visitors from 149 countries.
It also featured participation from all of the world’s top 10 defense companies and more than 60 of the top 100 defense firms globally.
According to organizers, the event generated $8.8 billion in orders and announcements and hosted 389 live demonstrations across air, land, and unmanned domains.
Al-Babtain said the scale of participation reflected growing international confidence in both the platform and Saudi Arabia’s defense sector.
“The results demonstrated the growing confidence international stakeholders have in both the platform and the Kingdom itself.
“What was particularly encouraging was the depth of participation. We saw governments, industry leaders, investors, innovators, and academic institutions all engaging in meaningful discussions about the future of defense and security,” he said.
World Defense Show continues to support Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 goals, particularly in defense localization, industrial development, and international partnerships. The exhibition serves as a platform for collaboration between international manufacturers, local companies, small and medium-sized enterprises, and government entities.
“Localization is ultimately about building sustainable capability. That requires partnerships, knowledge transfer, investment, supply chain development, and long-term industry engagement,” Al-Babtain said.
Saudi Arabia aims to localize 50 percent of its defense spending under Vision 2030, and World Defense Show has become a key platform for showcasing progress toward that goal.
Al-Babtain also pointed to the Kingdom’s growing reputation as a destination for international business and strategic engagement.
“I think it reflects the confidence international stakeholders increasingly have in Saudi Arabia as a place to do business, build partnerships, and engage in meaningful dialogue around future opportunities,” he said.
“What we see through World Defense Show is that organizations are not simply attending out of curiosity. They are returning, investing time and resources, bringing senior leadership teams, and engaging in long-term conversations about collaboration and growth.”
Looking ahead, Al-Babtain said several themes are shaping discussions across the defense industry, including industrial resilience, emerging technologies, supply chain security, workforce development, and international collaboration.
“We are also seeing increasing attention on integrated defense capabilities and how countries are building more connected and adaptive defense ecosystems.
“What is particularly noticeable is that many conversations are becoming more long-term in nature. The focus is not only on current requirements, but on how countries and industries prepare for future challenges and opportunities.
“Those are themes that align closely with the direction of World Defense Show,” he said.
Andrew Pearcey, CEO of World Defense Show, said the exhibition was designed to serve as more than a traditional trade event.
“World Defense Show was designed from the outset to serve as more than a traditional exhibition platform. Our objective is to create an environment where governments, industry leaders, innovators, and strategic partners can come together to shape the future of defense collaboration and engagement,” he said.
Pearcey added: “The establishment of the first-ever Canadian National Pavilion at World Defense Show 2028 reflects growing international confidence in the platform and its ability to foster meaningful collaboration across the global defense ecosystem.
“We also welcome DEMCO as a premium partner and look forward to working with both organizations as we continue to strengthen the show’s international footprint.”
Preparations for World Defense Show 2028 will continue through 2026 and 2027, with additional announcements on themes and programming expected from early 2027.
Organizers say the next edition will focus on strengthening international participation while reflecting evolving trends, technologies, and priorities shaping the global defense industry.
Pearcey said: “The objective is not simply to become larger, but to become more impactful and relevant for the global defense community. The role of exhibitions is evolving. Today’s platforms must do more than showcase technology. They must facilitate dialogue, enable partnerships, support industrial development, and create opportunities for long-term collaboration.
“That is the direction World Defense Show continues to move toward, and it is the role we believe the platform can play for the global defense sector in the years ahead.”
