Trade Visitors are welcome from 5 to 8 February. 

Day 1 activities will include:

Future of Defense Forum – NEW to 2024 

The Future Defense Forum (Preview Day) features keynotes and panel sessions with government, military and industrial senior leadership debating policy, defense industry trends, impacts on technology & innovation, and implications for capabilities and talent. This will be an invitation-only event.

Welcome Speech 

An official ceremony will open the second edition of World Defense Show. The Welcome Speech will highlight the show’s achievements and celebrate this auspicious occasion. 

The Welcome Speech will be followed by military brand processions, aerobatic display teams and a cultural showcase – true Saudi style!

Welcome Reception

At the close of the show on Day 1, the Welcome Reception at World Defense Show will deliver another occasion during which this exclusive audience can connect. Held within the heart of the show, the networking event will offer cuisines from around the world in an informal setting.

Be a part of the bigger and better WDS 2026, Click here to Book Your Space.

The program will invite 375 official delegations from 105 countries in its next edition.
The Official Delegations Program is one of the most important activities for exhibitors. This global platform is designed for high-ranking representatives with buying and influencing power to meet exhibitors, the program will deliver opportunities for exhibitors to showcase and promote technology, nurture and build relationships and create new ones. The first WDS edition saw over 100 delegations from 42 countries and facilitated over 1000 meetings.

Contact our team for any questions or to learn more about the official Delegations Program at: [email protected]

Be a part of the bigger and better WDS 2026, Click here to Book Your Space.

The Future of Defense Hub is made up of three core activities that run across all days of the show: 

• R&D – where innovation meets application. Here you can discover the universities and research & development centers conceptualizing the future of defense. 
• Innovation – where the entrepreneurs and innovators of tomorrow gather. This will feature start-up entities displaying the next stages in the evolution of defense technology. 
• Content Theatre – where innovators meet investors. This dedicated theater will host the investee & Investor Program, Pitching Session, Mentorship clinics and Fireside chat sessions.

Be a part of the bigger and better WDS 2026, Click here to Book Your Space.

Any nation wanting to be 'Equipped for Tomorrow' must ensure space is a central component of their defense and national security strategy and planning.

New for WDS 2024, the Defense Space Arena will promote the emerging importance of space and its impact on all aspects of national security. WDS Defense Space Arena will promote international collaboration, encourage engagement between leading space entities, have the most innovative space capabilities and technologies on show, and contribute to the multifaceted international dialogue on space matters.

The Defense Space Arena will highlight the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s strategic ambitions in space and identify future space opportunities for both the Kingdom and international partners. This new show feature will stimulate innovations in defense and inspire the future leaders in this growing domain.

Defense Space Domain

Within the Defense Space Arena sits the KSA MoD-sponsored Defense Space Domain. As well as hosting space-related meetings between international Space Forces and the international space industry, the Defense Space Domain will offer an interactive and engaging experience for visitors. Here you can take a walk through a space station to understand the importance of space to future global military capabilities and discover the exciting exploratory steps already taken in the Saudi MoD’s space defense journey.

Be a part of the bigger and better WDS 2026, Click here to Book Your Space.

A sophisticated match-making system prearranges scheduled meetings to ensure registered buyers and suppliers are connected efficiently and on the basis of shared interests. 

Building on the success of our Meet the Buyer Program held during WDS 2022 and to meet growing demand, B2B Connect will now run over three-days, from 5-7th February 2024, reinforcing WDS as the optimal meeting environment for the defense industry.  

Be a part of the bigger and better WDS 2026, Click here to Book Your Space.

Running daily throughout the show, the program delves into crucial topics such as Future Defense Leadership, Innovation Exploitation, Technology Integration for Defense Transformation, International Women in Defense, and Future Talent.

Through engaging sessions, the Content Theatres provide a platform for thought-provoking discussions and interactive exchanges, driving forward the evolution of defense capabilities and strategies.

Leading speakers and thought leaders from diverse backgrounds and expertise contribute their insights and expertise to foster innovation, address industry challenges, and identify opportunities for growth and collaboration.

Held in dedicated theatres across the show floor and the main conference room, the drop-in sessions are open to all attendees and are free to attend. 

Be a part of the bigger and better WDS 2026, Click here to Book Your Space.

It is developed to introduce exhibitors and visitors to key KSA government entities who can share the latest in procurement guidelines, investment requirements and partnership processes to operate in line with the national defense industry’s overall strategy and objectives.  

This is an invaluable opportunity for building relationships and collaborations within the Saudi Arabian defense industry and is open to all who are interested in understanding and contributing to Saudi Arabia's defense ecosystem.

Meet the KSA Government Program will include sessions conducted by representatives from: The General Authority for Military Industries (GAMI), Ministry of Defense, Ministry of Interior, National Cybersecurity Authority (NCA), National Guard Presidency of State Security and more.

Be a part of the bigger and better WDS 2026, Click here to Book Your Space.

The program is designed to inform, influence and inspire the next generation of innovators from all backgrounds, showing them that they have the knowledge and skills to excel in a career in defense.

Working in partnership with academia, industry and government, we will deliver exciting, engaging and educational initiatives that enable interaction with inspirational speakers, industry exhibitors and will provide guidance on the various academic and vocational routes into the sector.

This program acts as an enabler for Vision 2030's national workforce development goals, connecting over 8,000 STEM students with potential career opportunities and apprenticeship programs in the defense sector. Aligned with the Military Industries Human Capital Strategy (MIHC) that aims to build an ecosystem for Defense in the KSA, the Future Talent Program contributes to the development of Saudi capabilities and raising young people’s engagement and achievement in STEM subjects and careers.

Be a part of the bigger and better WDS 2026, Click here to Book Your Space.

The program is proud to host female CEOs and leaders from around the world, to applaud the achievements of women, discuss the ongoing challenges and evaluate how they are contributing to the global defense sector, through a series of keynotes and panels.

International Women in Defense will form a main topic within the Content Theatres on day four of the event. Sessions are free and open to exhibitors and visitors.

The inaugural International Women in Defense 2022 conference hosted senior leadership from the defense sector to examine female empowerment, share ideas encouraging the pipeline of future talent, provide visibility of positive role models and promote the benefits of female inclusion to business performance.  The event was headlined by Princess Reema Bint Bandar Bin Sultan, Saudi Arabia’s Ambassador to the United States, Chief Executive Officer of General Dynamics Phebe Novakovic, and former President and Chief Executive Officer of Rolls-Royce North America Marion Blakey.

Be a part of the bigger and better WDS 2026, Click here to Book Your Space.

World Defense Show 2026 delivers dynamic daily air and land demonstrations of manned and unmanned technology, showcasing the capability for future multi-domain operations with the latest evolution of battlefield networks.

These live air and land demonstrations will feature advanced military assets from exhibiting companies and government entities. World Defense Show brings a vast range of defense technologies to audiences through a combination of live and static display platforms capable of hosting the full spectrum of future defense and security technologies across the air, land, sea and space domains. 

Each day will host unique live demos and static displays, featuring: 

1. Live Land Displays
2. Static Land Asset Displays
3. Military Aircraft Demonstrations
4. Unmanned Aerials Systems (UAS) 
5. Clients Test Drive Experience (Off-Road Zone)

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Taking place daily for the duration of the show, the Cultural Program offers exhibitors and visitors an insight into the customs, culture and heritage of the Kingdom, from sports and art, to food and beverage. You can enjoy Saudi authentic coffee, traditional live music, dance performances, military bands, calligraphy artisans, literature and falconry experiences within the halls of the event.

In collaboration with the Ministry of Culture and Saudi Tourism Authority, the program also offers our guests cultural tours and aftershow hours in Riyadh, and across the Kingdom. 

We encourage exhibitors and visitors to coordinate ahead of the show to enrich the experience of their stay.

Be a part of the bigger and better WDS 2026, Click here to Book Your Space.

This interactive experience aims to engage and inform about the latest trends and technologies shaping the defense landscape.

At the heart of WDS 2024’s Equipped for Tomorrow theme, Journey to the Future serves as both a unique platform to present cutting-edge solutions and a guided pathway highlights debuts and improvements. It will encompass a range of exciting features, including the Space Arena, Future of Defense Hub, Future Talent Program, Content Theaters and Live Displays.

Be a part of the bigger and better WDS 2026, Click here to Book Your Space.