Riyadh: Saudi Arabia’s General Authority for Military Industries (GAMI) announced the launch of the ‘World Defence Show’.
The show will take centre stage in the global defence show circuit, offering exhibitors and visitors the opportunity to participate in Saudi Arabia’s first truly integrated defence show.
Founded by GAMI, the World Defence Show is focused on interoperability across air, land, sea, security innovative defence technologies and satellite defence systems. The inaugural event is scheduled to take place from March 6-9, 2022 and will then be held biennially in Saudi Arabia’s capital, Riyadh, according to Saudi Press Agency (SPA).
GAMI’s Governor Ahmad Al Ohali stated: “As technology is accelerating the rate at which the global defence industry is evolving, defence considerations are becoming increasingly complex. There is a need for a platform, which enables the defence community to convene and collectively consider the great opportunities and challenges that are facing us all. This is why we are launching World Defence Show, an innovative platform showcasing, through both live and virtual demonstrations, the possibilities that interoperability can provide across all five defence domains: Air, Land, Sea, Security and Satellite.”
He added, “There is no better place than Saudi Arabia to organise a defence event at this scale. A G20 country, the kingdom is one of the world’s biggest defence spenders with a strategic location at the centre of three continents, making it an ideal hub for defence trade and innovation. Saudi Arabia’s vision to localise 50% of its multi-billion-dollar defence expenditure by 2030 also presents massive opportunities to global industry OEMs and investors.”
GAMI has recruited a team of international experts to organise and run event operations.
Shaun Ormrod, CEO, World Defence Show, said: “Today’s launch of World Defence Show marks an exciting inflection point for the defence industry and a step forward in the ambition and scale of a defence trade show. Through World Defence Show we will demonstrate why Saudi Arabia is critical to the defence industry’s future.
The platform will enable access to dedicated programmes that support Saudi Arabia’s local businesses, it will leverage investment opportunities and encourage a new generation to aspire to work in the defence industry.” Mr Ormrod is the former CEO of Farnborough Airshow with over 20 years of industry trade show expertise.
Over four days, the World Defence Show will showcase comprehensive and interactive displays of integrated defence technology solutions, alongside conferences and thought leadership seminars focused on the next generation of defence. The show’s venue, estimated to accommodate 80,000 square metres of exhibition, hospitality and outdoor area, will feature demonstration facilities and virtual technological capabilities to showcase every defence domain on an unprecedented scale.