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2022-12-01

World Defense Show 2024 to Showcase Industry-leading Solutions in KSA

The inaugural World Defense Show, which concluded earlier this year, witnessed the signing of SAR29.7bn in deals and brought the global defence and security community together across four trade days in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). Founded by the General Authority for Military Industries (GAMI), the show focused on defence interoperability and received over 100 military delegations, 65,000 visits and representation from 85 countries from east to west. The event was packed with industry-leading networking programmes and demonstrations and paved the way for collaboration, sector growth and human capital development.

In an interview with Nation Shield, Andy Pearcey, CEO of World Defense Show (WDS) discussed the resounding success of the inaugural edition along with what visitors can expect at WDS 2024. From technologies that will propel the future of defence innovations to panel discussions and funding pitching sessions, the event is gearing up for another successful edition. Excerpts:

How was the response to the inaugural WDS held earlier this year?

We had an overwhelming response to the first edition. The overall World Defense Show proposition was very well received by the defence industry. The show statistics and feedback received are a testament to this.

We created a fantastic show with an incredible bespoke venue and show features that enhanced this proposition further by providing a multitude of platforms through which our defence community could connect and do business. The show was sold out three months before the event, so we created a temporary hall to satisfy the demand.

The event focused on military interoperability that showcased comprehensive and interactive displays of defence technology solutions across land, sea, air, space and security. It was attended by high-level representatives from industry giants, government officials and leading decision-makers from within the Kingdom and across the globe. We had a truly fantastic show!

In fact, the biggest testimony for the first edition is the large commitment we have seen from exhibitors looking to rebook for the second edition. We have already sold over 50 per cent of the exhibition space. With just over a year to go for the show, we are now looking at expanding the exhibition offering further.

How does WDS support the industry and the advancement of technology?

The global defence landscape is witnessing significant transformations and leveraging cutting-edge technologies to strengthen capabilities. As the world is focused on Artificial Intelligence (AI), robotics, autonomous systems, machine learning, hybrid technologies, sustainability, and blockchain, to name a few, World Defense Show 2024 will examine emerging and progressive innovation of these trends over the next decade.

Our participants, from R&D, start-ups to global leaders, sit at the heart of the theme in 2024 and will showcase the latest cutting-edge products and capabilities throughout the show. In addition, today’s innovators will take to the centre stage, where we will learn about these emerging technologies at the forefront of all defence domains. ‘The Future of Defence’ theme will be woven across all our show features and will deliver inspiring conversations at every level.

What is WDS doing to support start-ups in defence?

We are dedicated to creating opportunities across the defence industry for innovative start-ups, entrepreneurs and the visionaries of tomorrow that are pivotal to transforming the defence landscape as we currently see it. Showcasing this up-and-coming technology attracts investors, and our event delivers a real platform for start-ups to pitch ideas, products and business strategies in order to generate interest.

The 2024 edition will host a dedicated area called the Future of Defence Hub. It will feature Research & Development centres and universities that will be conceptualising the future. In addition, exhibitors within this hub will include start-ups from small to medium-sized businesses, as well as a dedicated auditorium for presentations, panel discussions and funding pitching sessions for investors and investees. We are excited to see this new show feature come to life at the next show.

What will WDS be doing to incorporate sustainability on its agenda?

The mission for sustainability in the defence industry hinges on how we foster innovation to protect the environment and work collaboratively to strengthen communities and propel responsible growth.

Our team is currently curating our content programme, and sustainability will be embedded within the agenda to ensure that our audiences understand the message about having the best skills and capabilities to address the challenges that we face.

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia also has high ambitions and commitments when it comes to tackling climate change and has launched the Saudi green initiative. The Kingdom looks to reach net zero carbon emissions by 2060, and half of its energy will come from renewables by 2030. The country has a transformation vision all embedded within the Vision 2030 goals.

What can visitors expect to witness at WDS 2024?

WDS 2024 will provide a unique community platform for the world’s defence industry to network, partner, share knowledge and discover innovations and capabilities across all the defence domains.

The exhibition will feature defence companies from every sector and tier of the industry with an abundance of show features, all designed to deliver best-in-class events that connect visitors and industry representatives from across the world. The second edition is once again all set to attract key defence figures, government officials, decision-makers, and thought leaders across all levels of the supply chain.

Our existing show features and content are currently undergoing enhancements to deliver bigger and better opportunities for all our audiences. This is along with the new and exciting show features that represent even more tiers from within the industry.

Our team is excited about what we have in store, and 2024 is set to exceed expectations even further. We are looking forward to announcing our vision for the World Defense Show, and its features and content when we launch in February 2024.

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