Riyadh, 21 February 2023: World Defense Show founded by the General Authority for Military Industries (GAMI), has today officially launched WDS 2024. Taking place 4-8 February at the custom-built venue in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, the event will showcase the future of defense technologies across air, land, sea, space and security, under the banner Equipped for Tomorrow.
Under the patronage of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, World Defense Show is dedicated to creating the ultimate business to business event for the defense industry that supports it’s relevant ministries and authorities whilst reinforcing the national commitment to the growth and success of the show.
Attendees will experience a wealth of unique networking opportunities, world-class show features and dynamic live demonstrations in an expanded venue for 2024. Hosting exhibitors from 45 countries, WDS 2024 is an emerging platform for the global defense industry, showcasing the future of defense and contributing to a more inclusive, open, and collaborative defense sector.
It also offers a pathway for government entities and the private sector to work together towards the localization of 50 percent of domestic defense equipment and services expenditure in the Kingdom, in line with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030.
Andrew Pearcey, CEO, said: “We are delighted to announce that WDS 2024 is bigger in size, longer in duration and wider in scope in terms of international participation, exhibition floorspace and technological content. We have introduced a range of important new features, including a space arena, in recognition of the increasingly essential role the domain is playing in future global defense strategies.”
Future focus
The show will support innovation and technological development through the Future of Defense Forum, that focuses on different topics across the week, and introduce new and enhanced features including dedicated hubs for R&D, innovation and space. Visitors can experience an interactive ‘journey to the future’ looking at products and equipment never been seen before. Daily forums across the five domains will attract defense leaders that will address hot topics in the global industry, including sustainability, women in defense and the development of young talent.
The expanded B2B Connect program will offer greater meeting opportunities and the 700 exhibitors and 115 visiting international delegations will have unique access to high level Saudi government representatives. Industry exchange will be facilitated by an additional Preview Day reserved for VIPs, delegations, government entities and exhibitors.
Pearcey added: “Responding to feedback from the successful inaugural event, we have extended the show to allow greater networking and dealmaking opportunities, giving primes and SMEs throughout the supply chain the opportunity to make those connections and have those important conversations’’.
