“DIMDEX 2026 the Largest and Most Comprehensive in the Event’s History”

DIMDEX 2026 will feature a larger footprint, a greater number of international participants, and an enhanced programme of conferences and workshops, marking a clear step up in both size and scope compared to previous editions, says Staff Brigadier (Sea) Abdulbaqi Saleh Al-Ansari, Organizing Committee Chairman of the biennial event.

In response to strong industry demand, DIMDEX 2026 will be held for the first time over four days instead of three, offering additional opportunities for engagement and interaction. The expansion reflects the sustained growth and international prestige that the exhibition has achieved over successive editions, Staff Brigadier Al-Ansari added in an interview.

What are the main highlights of DIMDEX 2026? How much bigger will DIMDEX this year’s edition be compared to the previous one?

The core component of DIMDEX remains the exhibition itself, where major global defence companies showcase their latest products and technologies, engage directly with potential buyers, including official government delegations, and pursue commercial agreements and strategic partnerships. The event will also host the Middle East Naval Commanders Conference (MENC), organised in collaboration with the Joaan Bin Jassim Academy for Defence Studies. This year’s conference will be held under the theme “Defence Diplomacy and Maritime Security Challenges.” Another key highlight is the continued presence of official VIP delegations, including senior government representatives, naval commanders, and influential industry figures. One of the defining features of DIMDEX remains the participation of international visiting warships at Hamad Port, which continues to be a highly valued element of the event.

A new component introduced for DIMDEX 2026 is a series of specialised, exhibitor-led workshops taking place over three days, from Jan. 20-22, in a dedicated area within the exhibition. These workshops will enable exhibitors to demonstrate how advanced technologies and innovative solutions can be applied within today’s defence ecosystem.

Please provide an update on the country pavilions at this year’s edition of DIMDEX.

DIMDEX 2026 continues to attract prominent national and country pavilions, reflecting its truly global reach. These pavilions represent defence industries from across North America, Europe, the Middle East, and Asia, highlighting national capabilities, innovation ecosystems, and industrial strengths. The international pavilions include France, Germany, the United Kingdom, Italy, the United States, Türkiye, China, South Korea, and Qatar. In addition, participation from countries such as Belgium, the Netherlands, Spain, Norway, Finland, Switzerland, Croatia, and Sweden underscores DIMDEX’s role as a neutral and trusted platform for international defence engagement. The presence of these pavilions facilitates structured dialogue between governments, armed forces, and industry, supporting collaboration, partnership-building, and technology exchange.

We also have more than 200 national and international exhibitors as well as over 130 official VIP delegations and senior decision-makers.

The event has always attracted first-time companies. How many such companies are participating in this edition?

DIMDEX continues to draw a strong contingent of first-time exhibitors, reinforcing its reputation as a trusted gateway to regional and international defence markets. While final figures will be announced closer to the event, DIMDEX 2026 is expected to welcome a significant number of companies making their debut appearance at the exhibition.

This reflects the growing influence of DIMDEX across security, commercial, and economic dimensions. The consistent influx of new participants highlights the exhibition’s ability to evolve in step with the defence sector, attract emerging technology providers, and offer tangible commercial and strategic value, particularly to companies seeking entry into the specialised maritime defence domain.

How significant is the UAE’s participation in DIMDEX 2026?

The participation of EDGE as both a first-time exhibitor and main sponsor underscores the increasing regional importance of DIMDEX as a platform for defence innovation and collaboration. The UAE’s involvement reflects the strong and evolving defence relationships between regional partners and highlights shared interests in advancing technological capability, industrial development, and security cooperation.

EDGE’s presence reinforces DIMDEX’s role in facilitating engagement and the exchange of knowledge between regional defence leaders and global industry stakeholders.

Turkey had the largest contingent of companies at DIMDEX 2024. Can we expect something similar this time?

With over 40 Turkish exhibitors, Türkiye forms the largest international pavilion at this edition, welcoming delegations representing multiple military branches, as well as the defence industries association. Turkish defence manufacturers view DIMDEX as an important opportunity to showcase their expanding portfolio of naval platforms, systems, and technologies, as well as capabilities that support multi-domain missions.

The Turkish Pavilion once again serves as a focal point for national industry representation and structured meetings with Qatari and global counterparts.  Such participation contributes significantly to the exhibition’s diversity and supports the exchange of expertise, technology, and industrial best practices between Qatar and Turkey, as well as with other international partners.

Do we have more international companies this year compared to the previous edition?

International participation at DIMDEX 2026 exceeds that of previous editions. The exhibition’s sustained growth, strong track record of facilitating major defence agreements, and increasing relevance to regional and global maritime security challenges continue to attract leading international companies.  The event’s ability to convene senior decision-makers, procurement authorities, and industry leaders in a single forum reinforces its standing as a preferred platform for engagement with MENA markets. International companies across a wide spectrum of defence-related fields view DIMDEX as a vital opportunity to showcase their latest innovations to decision-makers, secure substantial commercial agreements, expand sales, and access new markets within the maritime defence and security sector.

The 2024 edition concluded with contract values exceeding USD 1.37 billion. Since the exhibition’s inception, more than 75 contracts have been signed with a cumulative value surpassing USD 38 billion, alongside dozens of memoranda of understanding and strategic agreements.

What are some of the current maritime challenges thatare being addressed at DIMDEX?

DIMDEX 2026 addresses a range of evolving maritime challenges, including the protection of critical sea lanes, port and coastal security, freedom of navigation, and the expanding role of digital technologies in modern maritime operations.

The Middle East Naval Commanders Conference (MENC), held under the theme “Defence Diplomacy and Maritime Security Challenges”,  will play a particularly important role in this regard. Other key focus areas within the exhibition include autonomous and unmanned systems, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, situational awareness, and integrated command-and-control solutions.

Discussions examine the latest geopolitical trends and security issues affecting maritime domains, highlighting the importance of collaboration and unified frameworks to safeguard waterways and protect economic and strategic interests.

Other key focus areas within the exhibition include autonomous and unmanned systems, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, situational awareness, and integrated command-and-control solutions. These priorities reflect the changing nature of maritime security and the need for adaptive, technology-driven responses.

Through the active participation of companies operating within the wider maritime economy, including providers of marine engines, radar systems, propulsion technologies, tugboats, port operations solutions, and other critical equipment, the event offers a valuable opportunity to strengthen cross-sector collaboration and support continued growth amid challenges facing the maritime and industrial ecosystems.

Although primarily a maritime defence exhibition, DIMDEX has expanded to include other defence categories. Do we have sizeable participation from allied defence sectors?

While maritime defence remains central to DIMDEX’s identity, the exhibition has evolved into a more integrated, multi-domain platform. DIMDEX 2026 will feature strong participation from allied defence sectors, including land, air, cyber, and digital defence systems that directly complement maritime security. In addition, the event supports local defence industries, research and development initiatives, and emerging sectors such as unmanned systems, artificial intelligence, and cybersecurity.

In addition, DIMDEX supports local defence industries, research and development initiatives, and emerging sectors such as unmanned systems, artificial intelligence, and cybersecurity. This contributes to enhancing operational readiness, modernising defence assets, and improving coordination, interoperability, and cross-domain integration.

This comprehensive and integrated approach reflects modern defence realities, where interoperability and multi-domain coordination are essential to addressing increasingly complex security environments.