DSEI 2025: Saudi Arabia World Defense Show 2026 Reveals Major Defense Opportunities.

During DSEI 2025 in London, Mansour Al-Babtain, Vice President of the World Defense Show (WDS), granted an exclusive interview to Army Recognition. In this exchange, he outlined how WDS is fully aligned with the objectives of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030. Central to the discussion are the localization of military production, the development of national talent, and the attraction of international investment, all pillars shaping the 2026 edition of the show.
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 WDS 2026 is poised to be a catalyst for sustainable growth, innovation, and self-sufficiency in the Kingdom's defense sector (Picture source: WDS)

How does WDS specifically contribute to the goals of Saudi Vision 2030, particularly in terms of defense localization and the development of local talent?

World Defense Show is fundamentally aligned with Saudi Vision 2030 as a key facilitator of the ambitious goal to localize 50% of military expenditures. Founded by the General Authority for Military Industries (GAMI), WDS serves as a high-impact networking and knowledge exchange platform for industry transformation. Through features like our Meet the KSA Government program and the new Saudi Supply Chain Zone, we remove barriers for investors and companies to explore and enter the Saudi defense market, offering a clear roadmap to participate in the Kingdom’s defense transformation.

In regard to talent development, our Saudi Supply Chain Zone and Future Talent Program are both direct examples of how we’re positioning Saudi talent to be active contributors, rather than passive observers, in the Kingdom’s evolving defense landscape. By bringing together local stakeholders, government authorities, and international firms, WDS supports the creation of joint ventures, job creation, and technology transfer, all of which are crucial for developing and embedding national talent within the defense value chain. As a supporter of Vision 2030, our long-term success is measured by our ability to nurture Saudi expertise and upskill the workforce.

Could you present the Saudi Supply Chain Zone and the WDS Investor Program, and explain their strategic role for the Saudi defense sector?

The Saudi Supply Chain Zone is strategically designed to bridge the gap between local talent and global players. It shines the spotlight on Saudi SMEs, startups, and entrepreneurs, providing them with a platform to display their innovations, connect with international firms, secure partnerships, and integrate into the broader defense supply chain. This directly supports localization efforts by nurturing local capabilities and ensuring that Saudi businesses are placed center stage to recognize local ingenuity, drive innovation, and contribute directly to the Kingdom's defense industrial growth.

The WDS Investor Program, held on the first day of the show, offers a bespoke experience for the global investment community. Anchored within the Future Defense Lab, it provides forward-thinking investors with curated access to local and global innovators, breakthrough technologies, and disruptive startups. This program is crucial for attracting the necessary capital and expertise to fuel the growth of Saudi Arabia's defense industrial base in a calculated effort to connect global investment with Saudi innovation.

What types of strategic partnerships does WDS 2026 aim to foster, and how could these partnerships contribute to the national economy?

WDS 2026 aims to foster a wide range of strategic partnerships, including joint ventures, technology transfer agreements, and collaborative research and development initiatives between international defense leaders and Saudi entities. Through personalized matchmaking via WDS Connect, closed-door briefings with government representatives through the Delegations Program, exclusive access to key Saudi defense decision makers through the Meet the KSA Government program, and exclusive innovation challenge pitches, we create an environment conducive to these collaborations.

Such partnerships contribute significantly to the national economy by driving job creation, particularly in high-tech and specialized defense sectors. They facilitate the transfer of critical knowledge and advanced manufacturing capabilities, reducing reliance on imports and building a self-sufficient defense industry. Furthermore, by cultivating Saudi expertise and anchoring local capability, these partnerships lay the groundwork for future export potential and a greater means of diversifying the national economy beyond traditional sectors.

The Future Talent Program is highlighted as a key element of the 2026 edition. How will it help shape the next generation of defense professionals in the Kingdom?

The Future Talent Program is designed to be a transformative experience for Saudi youth. By engaging over 4,000 Saudi students through discussions, mentorship, innovation challenges, and direct exposure to global defense leaders, it provides invaluable practical experience and insight into the defense industry, emphasizing human capital development across critical areas such as engineering, cybersecurity, manufacturing, and research and development.

Our Future Talent Program cultivates a pipeline of skilled professionals, fostering innovation and preparing them for leadership roles within the defense sector. By connecting students and young professionals directly with industry leaders and showcasing career opportunities, our goal is to inspire and equip the next generation of defense professionals to be the drivers of Saudi Arabia's defense transformation.

In collaboration with the Ministry of Education, we will hold a Defensethon innovation challenge as an addition to the Future Talent Program in 2026, this opportunity will give young local talent more hands-on participation in the show. We will also be hosting a dedicated content theater within the Future Talent Program on day 5 of the show, featuring presentations discussing how we can more effectively incorporate budding talent and expertise within the industry, specifically in the Saudi Arabian market.

What concrete economic and industrial outcomes do you expect WDS 2026 to deliver for Saudi Arabia?

We expect WDS 2026 to deliver significant concrete economic and industrial outcomes for Saudi Arabia as the show has significantly increased in size and impact. With 80 countries exhibiting, a record number including new entrants, we anticipate 925 exhibitors and counting, quite a leap from the 773 exhibitors present in 2024. Participation growth, coupled with a 58% increase in exhibition space since the 2022 edition, sets up the ideal environment for an increase in signed deals, building on the SAR 26 billion achieved in 2024. The new WDS Investor Program will directly attract global capital, fueling growth in the defense sector. Economically, we anticipate a ripple effect further reinforcing the show's role as a high-impact platform for investment and trade.

Industrially, WDS 2026 will accelerate the localization of 50% of military expenditures by facilitating joint ventures, technology transfer, and the establishment of new manufacturing capabilities within the Kingdom. The Saudi Supply Chain Zone will empower local SMEs and startups, integrating them into the national and global defense supply chains. Furthermore, the show will drive job creation in specialized defense fields and contribute to the upskilling of the Saudi workforce, ensuring that national talent is embedded within the defense value chain. Ultimately, WDS 2026 is poised to be a catalyst for sustainable growth, innovation, and self-sufficiency in the Kingdom's defense sector.

Through this interview, Mansour Al-Babtain highlights the strategic ambition of the World Defense Show: to become a major catalyst for Saudi Arabia’s industrial, economic, and human transformation. With flagship initiatives such as the Saudi Supply Chain Zone, the Investor Program, and the Future Talent Program, WDS 2026 aims not only to strengthen the Kingdom’s self-sufficiency in defense but also to position Riyadh as a key hub for innovation and international cooperation. This dynamic is part of a long-term strategy, aligned with Vision 2030, where defense, industry, and education converge to build a new era of autonomy and global competitiveness.