The General Authority for Military Industries (GAMI), founder of Saudi Arabia’s World Defence Show, has announced a venue expansion amid unprecedented exhibitor demand for space at the inaugural event.

 

The world-class event will take place between March 6 and 9, 2022 and reoccur biennially in Saudi Arabia’s capital, Riyadh.

 

With less than four months to go until the show, organisers confirmed the expansion of Exhibition Hall 1, adding more than 14,500 additional sq m for international defence companies looking to exhibit.

 

Construction of the purpose-built 800,000 sq m site – featuring the world’s first dedicated runway for a defence event – is on track for completion by end of December 2021. The show will host more than 800 exhibitors including 100 local defence companies, with a series of senior military delegations and officials set to attend.

 

By that point the new hall will be completed along with a new access road, land forces demonstration area and courtyard, set to serve as a central point of access for 60 hospitality suites playing host to high-level meetings between suppliers and buyers.

 

Shaun Ormrod, CEO of the World Defence Show, commented: “We are thrilled with the overwhelming interest from the international defence industry to exhibit at the inaugural World Defence Show in Saudi Arabia.

 

“Dedicated to tech integration across the industry’s five domains, the event offers room for all defence-related companies to come together to showcase true interoperability at the greatest level. 

 

“A major benefit of building our venue from the ground up is that we start with a blank canvas and can really listen to our customers, whether they are local start-ups or international OEMs.

 

“We can not only make sure there is enough space for all exhibitors, but we can also build bespoke facilities for integrated live demonstrations.

 

“This includes a 3 km runway for military aircraft and a unique off-road desert zone for OEMs wishing to provide their customers with a real-life passenger experience.”

 

Supported by Strategic Partner, Saudi Arabian Military Industries (SAMI), World Defence Show is the global stage for defence interoperability across five domains: land, air, sea, space and security. 

 

Early-bird registration for defence industry professionals looking to attend the show is live with passes starting at SR350 ($95) until the end of November 2021. All vetted international attendees will receive a complimentary multi-entry visa to Saudi Arabia – valid for one year – to facilitate progress and developments in the kingdom’s defence industry post-show.  

 

By connecting key defence contacts, primes, SMEs, and buyers, World Defence Show has laid the foundations to advance the defence industry and launch an industry-wide front against the challenges presented by ever-deeper defence systems integration.-- TradeArabia News Service