Riyadh: The World Defense Show (WDS) announced that 90% of its exhibition space for the third edition has been booked. Organized by the General Authority for Military Industries (GAMI), the event will take place in Riyadh from February 8 to 12, 2026. The announcement was made during WDS's participation in the Saudi pavilion at the ongoing International Defense Industry Fair (IDEF 2025) in Istanbul, Trkiye.

According to Saudi Press Agency, WDS CEO Andrew Pearcey stated that the Turkish pavilion at the 2026 show, featuring major Turkish companies, will be the third-largest international pavilion, covering 4,400 square meters. Pearcey highlighted that this strong presence could see significant growth, reflecting WDS's increasing momentum as a leading global defense exhibition platform.

Pearcey also noted that the show will host exhibitors from a record 80 countries, with new participants including Japan, Portugal, Uzbekistan, and Finland. This further solidifies the exhibition's position as a truly international platform for cooperation and innovation.

The third edition of the World Defense Show will be held under the theme 'The Future of Defense Integration.' It will continue its pivotal role as an international platform, showcasing the latest innovations across five defense domains: air, land, sea, space, and security.

Through its presence at IDEF 2025, WDS aims to connect with industry leaders and highlight updates for its third edition. The upcoming event will feature discussions from the second to the fifth day, covering pivotal topics shaping the future of the defense industry. These include transforming operational needs into technological superiority, accelerating pioneering defense technologies, integrating and deploying emerging technologies, and supporting national production and defense exports.

The second edition of the World Defense Show was a major success, featuring 773 exhibitors from 76 countries and 441 official delegations from 116 countries. It drew over 106,000 specialized visitors and generated deals exceeding SAR26 billion.