World Defense Show (WDS) proudly announces continuation of its strategic partnership with Saudi Arabian Military Industries (SAMI) for 2026.
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Press Release, Riyadh, 26 January 2025: World Defense Show (WDS) proudly announces continuation of its strategic partnership with Saudi Arabian Military Industries (SAMI) for the show’s third edition, to be held 8-12 February 2026 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. SAMI has been a key partner since the inception of WDS, and this continued collaboration plays an integral role in advancing Saudi Arabia’s defence ecosystem and national goals under Vision 2030.
SAMI, a driving force in the Kingdom’s defence transformation, has helped power the success of the previous two editions of WDS. Likewise, SAMI leverages the WDS platform to support its mission of scaling up the defence industries sector. The ongoing partnership between WDS and SAMI underscores their roles in supporting the localisation of 50% of the Kingdom’s defence expenditures, thus expanding Saudi Arabia’s global competitiveness in the defence sector.
As a national champion of defence localisation, SAMI, alongside WDS, is strongly aligned with the goals of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, contributing to the broader strategy in areas of economic diversification and national talent development. This valuable partnership deepens mutual commitments to drive technological innovation, strengthen the Kingdom’s defence sector, attract international partnerships and investments, and bring local talent to the forefront.
Founded by General Authority of Military Industries (GAMI), WDS 2026 will showcase cutting-edge technologies and innovations across all defence domains—air, land, sea, space, and security. The event provides an unparalleled platform for industry leaders, governments, SMEs, and local startups to network, forge new partnerships, and explore investment opportunities, all while highlighting Saudi Arabia’s evolving defence capabilities. Building on the immense success of the 2024 edition, WDS 2026 offers enhanced opportunities for collaboration and knowledge sharing within the global defence community.
Andrew Pearcey, CEO of World Defense Show, commented: “We are delighted to continue our partnership with SAMI for the third edition of WDS. Their leadership in defence localisation and innovation is central to the success of the show and to the Kingdom’s broader Vision 2030 goals. Together, we are helping to shape the future of defence, both locally and globally.”
Wael M Al Sarhan, SAMI’s Chief Communication and Support Service Officer, added: “Our strategic partnership with World Defense Show underscores our commitment to contributing to the localisation of the Kingdom’s defence spending, a core target of Saudi Vision 2030. Reflecting our dedication to showcasing national capabilities by advancing cutting-edge technologies and fostering national talents to develop world-class defence products and services— to build a self-sufficient defence ecosystem that supports the Kingdom’s economic diversification goals.
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