The WDS has already allocated 85 percent of its space to exhibitors. More than 100 Saudi firms have signed up to take part. LONDON: The World Defense Show (WDS), the global security event to be held in Riyadh next March, is expected to add SR500 million to Saudi Arabia"s GDP and create 5000 jobs, according to its head. The show, held under the patronage of King Salman, will benefit companies and entities directly connected to the event, as well as those in the local supply chain, Shaun Ormrod, CEO of the WDS, told Arab News in an interview at the sidelines of the Defence and Security Equipment International (DSEI) exhibition in London. Ads by optAd360 Jobs in transport, hospitality, construction and defense will be among those boosted by the show, which is set to be held on March 6 next year. Ormrod said that as WDS is a marketplace bringing together the international community with the local supply chain and the Saudi Ministry of Defense, it will directly and indirectly create over 5,000 local jobs. “How many more it will create in the next decade or so is something that’s yet to be calculated, but it’s a huge impact for the local economy,” he added. He said that WDS are keen to find local partners to source a lot of the manufacturing, supply and technology needed for the show.