World Defense Show (WDS), organized by the General Authority for Military Industries (GAMI), is reinforcing its role as a leading international platform for defense collaboration and strategic engagement through its participation in Eurosatory 2026, being held in Paris from June 15 to 19.
The event serves as a key milestone in preparations for the fourth edition of World Defense Show, scheduled to take place in Riyadh in January 2028. WDS is using its presence at Eurosatory to engage with major global defense companies and provide updates on the upcoming edition, which has already attracted significant international interest. More than 19 months before the event opens, re-bookings have reached high levels, reflecting growing confidence in the exhibition as a strategic meeting point for the global defense industry.
As part of its activities in Paris, World Defense Show is announcing a series of strategic partnerships that highlight the increasing international momentum behind WDS 2028. Among them is an agreement with Global Affairs Canada (GAC), which will establish the first Canadian National Pavilion at the exhibition. The pavilion will provide a dedicated platform for Canadian defense and security companies to engage with international stakeholders in Riyadh.
WDS has also signed an agreement with Development East Manufacturing Holding Co. (DEMCO), which joins the 2028 edition as a Premium Partner, further demonstrating the event’s growing appeal among leading industry players.
“World Defense Show was designed from the outset to serve as more than a traditional exhibition platform,” said Andrew Pearcey, Chief Executive Officer of World Defense Show. “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.”
Pearcey said the launch of the first Canadian National Pavilion at WDS 2028 reflects increasing international confidence in the platform and its ability to facilitate meaningful cooperation across the global defense ecosystem. He also welcomed DEMCO Holdings as a Premium Partner, noting that both partnerships would contribute to expanding the event’s international reach.
World Defense Show
The third edition of World Defense Show, held in Riyadh in February 2026, attracted 1,486 exhibitors from 89 countries, alongside 513 official delegations representing 121 countries and 137,000 visitors. The figures marked the highest participation levels in the event’s history and underscored its growing prominence on the international defense calendar.
The 2026 edition featured participation from all of the world’s top 10 defense companies and more than 60 of the top 100 defense firms. Over the course of five days, the exhibition hosted 389 live demonstrations across air, land and unmanned domains.
The event also generated SAR33 billion in orders and announcements, highlighting its increasing commercial significance and its contribution to defense-sector engagement, industrial development and strategic partnership building. These efforts align with Saudi Vision 2030’s goal of localizing 50 percent of the Kingdom’s defense spending.
A key differentiator for World Defense Show remains its purpose-built venue near Riyadh, which includes a dedicated 2,700-meter runway, large-scale land demonstration zones and integrated operational environments spanning land, air, sea, space and security domains. The facility enables extensive live capability demonstrations and multi-domain operational showcases.
Preparations for WDS 2028 will continue throughout 2026 and 2027, with further announcements on event themes and programming expected from early 2027. The upcoming edition aims to expand the exhibition’s international footprint while reflecting the technological innovation, market priorities and collaborative approaches shaping the future of the global defense sector.
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