RIYADH — A fully integrated defense show that will bring together air, land, sea, security and satellite defense systems has been announced on Wednesday to take place in Saudi Arabia starting 2022. Saudi Arabia’s General Authority for Military Industries (GAMI) announced the launch of ‘World Defense Show’. The show will take center stage in the global defense show circuit, offering exhibitors and visitors the opportunity to participate in Saudi Arabia’s first truly integrated defense show. The inaugural event is scheduled to take place between March 6-9, 2022, and will then be held biennially in Saudi Arabia’s capital, Riyadh. GAMI’s Governor, Ahmad Al Ohali stated: “As Technology is accelerating the rate at which the global defense industry is evolving, defense considerations are becoming increasingly complex. There is a need for a platform, which enables the defense community to convene and collectively consider the great opportunities and challenges that are facing us all. “This is why we are launching World Defense Show, an innovative platform showcasing, through both live and virtual demonstrations, the possibilities that interoperability can provide across all five defense domains: Air, Land, Sea, Security and Satellite.” He added, “There is no better place than Saudi Arabia to organize a defense event at this scale. A G20 country, the Kingdom is one of the world’s biggest defense spenders with a strategic location at the center of three continents, making it an ideal hub for defense trade and innovation. “Saudi Arabia’s vision to localize 50% of its multi-billion-dollar defense expenditure by 2030 also presents massive opportunities to global industry OEMs and investors.” Shaun Ormrod, chief executive officer, World Defense Show, said: “Today’s launch of World Defense Show marks an exciting inflection point for the defense industry and a step forward in the ambition and scale of a defense trade show. Through World Defense Show we will demonstrate why Saudi Arabia is critical to the defense industry’s future. “The platform will enable access to dedicated programs that support Saudi Arabia’s local businesses, it will leverage investment opportunities and encourage a new generation to aspire to work in the defense industry.” Ormrod is the former CEO of Farnborough Airshow with over 20 years of industry trade show expertise. With global defense spending hitting $1.9 trillion in 2019, marking a 3.6% increase over the previous year’s figures, the World Defense Show is set to bring together the biggest defense players in the industry to discuss the challenges facing defense industry decision makers. The topic of discussion will be focused on finding interoperable solutions across air, land, sea, security and satellite defense systems, with the event being the first time that all five defense areas have been brought together under one roof in Saudi Arabia. The event will also bring together the latest technology innovations that will be demonstrated both live and virtually as the event takes center stage on the global defense show circuit. World Defense Show is a display and demonstration of integrated and innovation-driven defense solutions, set to serve as the global stage for defense interoperability. The inaugural show will showcase the latest in interoperable defense solutions. The event will be held in the presence of Saudi Arabia’s key leadership, international delegations and prominent industry decision makers from around the world. The event takes place against the backdrop of news of the country’s ambitious targets to localize 50% of its military expenditure by 2030 as it seeks to strengthen its ties with defense industry partners from around the world, whilst encouraging investment opportunities and a new generation to aspire to work in the defense industry. The responsibility for reaching these targets lies with the General Authority for Military Industries (GAMI) the regulator, enabler and licensor for Saudi Arabia’s defense and security industry and founder of the World Defense Show. Included in the show will be both live and virtual demonstrations of the possibilities that integrations can provide across all five defense domains: Air, Land, Sea, Security and Satellite. The show’s venue, estimated to accommodate 80,000 square meters of floor space, will feature demonstration facilities and virtual technological capabilities to showcase every defense domain on an unprecedented scale. — SG