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10 Feb 26. Founded by the General Authority for Military Industries (GAMI), World Defense Show 2026 entered its third day with a focus on diverse air and land demonstrations, alongside broad participation from official delegations, government entities, and international companies specializing in defense, security, and advanced technologies. Day Three featured the launch of key programs designed to bring government end-users, international industry leaders, innovators, and suppliers into direct dialogue – reflecting the show’s role as a global platform linking operational needs with emerging technologies, in line with Saudi Vision 2030.
The “Meet the KSA Government” program, held in the Auditorium (Hall 2), opened with a series of strategic briefings from senior officials across the Ministry of Defense, Ministry of Interior, National Cybersecurity Authority, and National Guard. Speakers outlined evolving operational requirements, national security priorities, capability gaps, and opportunities for industry partnership. The sessions enabled exhibitors to engage directly with decision-makers, strengthening alignment between national defense needs and industrial capacity.
His Excellency Ahmad Abdulaziz Al-Ohali, Governor of GAMI, underscored the importance of these interactions, stating: “WDS is a platform where vision becomes connection – where government, industry, and innovators come together to advance the Kingdom’s defense priorities. These programs deepen understanding, accelerate collaboration, and reinforce Saudi Arabia’s commitment to building an integrated and future-ready defense ecosystem.”
At the Future Defense Lab, held in Hall 1 North, experts presented new insights on emerging technologies shaping the future battlespace, including AI-enabled systems, disruptive digital capabilities, quantum applications, and next-generation space operations. Panels brought together Saudi and international leaders to discuss how integrated technologies enhance readiness, interoperability, and national resilience. The Lab served as a high-value space for innovators and policymakers to connect research with real-world application. Meanwhile, the Saudi Supply Chain Zone (Hall 3) continued to operate as a dynamic marketplace linking Saudi SMEs and advanced manufacturers with global primes, R&D organizations, and procurement leaders. Sessions throughout the day examined localization pathways, partnerships, technology transfer, and opportunities for industrial investment – reinforcing the Kingdom’s accelerating momentum in defense manufacturing and supply chain development.
Andrew Pearcey, CEO of World Defense Show, commented: “Today’s programs demonstrate what WDS does best: we connect people. Whether it is government with industry, innovators with end-users, or SMEs with global partners, WDS is where conversations become partnerships and ideas become capability. This is the foundation of integrated defense.”
Beyond the halls, visitors continued to experience live demonstrations on the show’s dedicated airfield and land track, showcasing how air, land, unmanned, and digital systems operate together in complex, multi-domain environments. These displays illustrated the practical reality of integration – a central theme of WDS 2026. World Defense Show 2026 continues through February 12, bringing together exhibitors, delegations, innovators, and investors from around the world to shape the future of defense collaboration and industrial growth in alignment with Vision 2030.
06 Feb 26. Some UAE companies pull out of Saudi defence show as Gulf rift spills into business.
- Summary
- Rift between two Gulf oil powers emerged in December over Yemen
- Geopolitical differences could spill over into business interests
- Gulf financial hubs pride themselves on stability
Some UAE companies have pulled out of a major defence show taking place in Saudi Arabia, two sources with direct knowledge of the matter told Reuters, the latest sign that a rift between the two Gulf oil powers is seeping into business interests.
The World Defense Show is set to take place in the Saudi capital Riyadh from February 8-12. It was not immediately clear if all the UAE participants involved in the country pavilion had withdrawn.
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There was no immediate comment by the UAE foreign ministry or the Saudi government media office on the matter.
TRICKLE-DOWN EFFECT
Once the twin pillars of regional security, the two Gulf heavyweights have seen their interests diverge on everything from oil quotas to geopolitics.
Their disagreements came out into the open in December when an advance by a UAE-backed southern Yemeni separatist group brought it too close to Saudi borders for comfort and quickly escalated to a Saudi-led coalition strike on a UAE-linked weapons shipment at the port of Mukalla.
The UAE has since withdrawn all its forces from Yemen, but tensions have grown with Saudi Arabia alleging the UAE had helped a leading Yemeni separatist figure escape through Somalia.
The UAE withdrawal from the annual defence event shows the disagreement between the two oil powers could spill over into the many trade and investment relations that bind them together.
While cross-border dealmaking remains largely unaffected for now, tensions are starting to trickle down to the business community which has been quietly preparing for potential disruptions even as day-to-day commerce continues, two Gulf-based business sources have said.
REGIONAL PRECEDENT
The longer this latest Gulf feud lingers the more fears are likely to grow within the business community of a repeat of something similar to the trade boycott that hit Qatar in 2017 during its own standoff with Gulf neighbours. Saudi Arabia and the UAE have $30 bn in trade ties, with goods and executives constantly moving between the two. During the Qatar blockade, which ended in 2021, some Saudi‑linked funds imposed restrictions preventing capital from being deployed there — conditions investors fear could re‑emerge if the current rift widens. At the time, banks had to choose whether to be on the side of the UAE and Saudi or Qatar. This time around, the stakes are high with the two economies intricately connected. Numerous Saudi family‑owned conglomerates and major firms maintain significant operations and personnel in the UAE, where many of their commercial leadership teams are based. Questions that would have been unthinkable months ago about potential disruptions to flight schedules and supply chains are now part of internal risk assessments, the two Gulf-based business sources said.
“Everyone stands to lose if this escalates,” said one senior business figure. (Source: Reuters)
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