What will be the highlights of the 2024 edition of WDS?
As well as seeing the return of such successful show features as the International Women in Defence Forum, Future Talent Form and the content theatres, there are a new show features for the 2024 edition.
Front and centre is the dedicated Space Arena, reflecting the enormous importance and constantly evolving nature of this domain. Leading space companies from all over the world will come together to show their latest technologies and international projects, giving visitors an informed insight into the future of space defence. Through discussion and presentations, it will showcase capabilities, encourage innovation and inspire future leaders in this fast-changing field.
Returning to WDS, and one of the networking and connection programs that are central to the show’s value proposition, is the Meet the KSA Government program. This program provides the global defence industry with a platform for understanding Saudi Arabia’s defence sector. Acting as a roadmap for the nation’s long-term strategic goals, the program enables investors to interact with key defence stakeholders in Saudi Arabia, to learn about the country’s defence strategy and objectives and gain insights into the Kingdom’s tendering and procurement guidelines and partnership requirements.
A further industry connection highlight is the Delegations Program, an exclusive platform facilitating engagement between exhibitors and top-level international dignitaries and military representatives, that paves the way for establishing vital business-to-business and business-to-government connections. In 2022, the program hosted over 100 delegations from 42 countries and facilitated over 1,000 meetings. Expect WDS 2024 to be bigger.
Also a key part of the event is B2B Connect, a networking program built on the foundations of the highly successful Meet the Buyer program. Through one-on-one meetings, participants have the opportunity to cultivate relationships and establish business leads with prime, startups, government entities and industry movers across the supply chain. These meetings serve as a foundation for enduring partnerships and have the potential to spark new ventures and extended cooperation within the defence and security industry.
Is there a specific key theme which is being particularly explored in depth at this edition of WDS?
World Defense Show 2024 is themed Equipped for Tomorrow and emphasises the importance of innovation and technology in the global defence industry. The event will showcase the latest developments across the domains of land, sea, air, space and cybersecurity.
The show features dedicated hubs, new technology launches and conferences that highlight the most advanced and promising developments in the industry, bringing together inventors, investors, academia and government entities with players across the supply chain, from primes to start-ups.
Central to this theme is the Journey to the Future, an integral part of World Defense Show 2024, offering an immersive experience that guides VIPs, delegations and visitors through the event’s most forward-thinking features, exhibits and debuts. This interactive experience will engage and inform attendees about the latest trends and technologies shaping the defence landscape.
How many countries and exhibitors will be newcomers to WDS in 2024?
While the final figures are not complete, the show is expecting approximately 750 exhibitors, which equates to an increase of 25% of overall exhibition space from that of 2022.
The number of participating countries represented currently totals more than 60, again an increase from the 42 countries who took part last year. Visitor numbers last year registered 65,000 visits from attendees from 85 countries over the four days. For 2024 the show has been extended to five days, to include an exclusive preview day on 2 February, open only to VIPs, delegations, KSA government entities, exhibitors and the press and expects to see 100,000 visits.
Compared to the show’s previous edition, can we expect to see a greater range of domestically-developed equipment from Saudi Arabia and its Gulf neighbours?
Saudi companies are well represented, with more than 100 taking part, and the KSA is the biggest single county pavilion. Countries across the Gulf have taken great strides in developing domestic production through joint ventures and investment and WDS expects to see the results on display from the many regional exhibitors.
Saudi Arabia continues to seek out partners and investors to work with the domestic defence industry, aiming to fulfil the national strategic goals of localisation of 50 percent of domestic defence equipment and services expenditure by 2030.
Which sectors of the defence equipment market are currently seeing particularly high demand in the Gulf region right now?
World Defense Show does not have definitive figures or forecasts for demand within the regional defence industry, but it is certainly an area of growth. WDS was founded in part to support with the Kingdom’s vision to localise 50% of defence expenditure across the supply chain. The show covers the five key domains of defence and the wide international interest shown and support for an expanded and extended event, highlights the global industry’s interest in supporting that vision.
