Riyadh, Saudi Arabia . Founded by the General Authority for Military Industries (GAMI), World Defense Show 2026 continued its fourth day with a strong focus on developing national talent and advancing the Kingdom’s long-term defense capabilities.
Day Four was dedicated to the Future Talent Program, held in the Auditorium (Hall 2), which took center stage as one of the show’s most strategic initiatives for empowering young Saudis. The program, sponsored by BAE Systems, was delivered in partnership with the Ministry of Education. It brought together students, early-career professionals, and defense experts for sessions exploring the future skills required to support the Kingdom’s defense transformation. Discussions focused on aligning education with industry needs, building competencies for next-generation defense roles, and preparing Saudi talent to contribute to advanced domains such as cybersecurity, unmanned systems, AI, space, and emerging technologies.
The program opened with a strong emphasis on the national priority of building future-ready talent, highlighting the role of education and skills development in supporting Saudi Arabia’s defense transformation. Senior leaders from the Ministry of Defense, the General Authority for Military Industries (GAMI), and the wider defense industry contributed to the dialogue, underscoring the Kingdom’s commitment to creating structured pathways that prepare Saudi youth for strategic and technical roles across the defense sector.
His Excellency Ahmad Abdulaziz Al-Ohali, Governor of GAMI, highlighted the centrality of human capital to the Kingdom’s defense ambitions, stating: “Developing the national talent pipeline is fundamental to achieving the Kingdom’s defense objectives. Through programs such as the Future Talent Program, we are equipping young Saudis with the skills, creativity, and innovative mindset needed to shape the future of our defense ecosystem. This investment ensures long-term sustainability, competitiveness, and sovereignty in support of Vision 2030.”
Meanwhile, engagements continued across wider show platforms, including the Meet the KSA Government Program, held in the Auditorium (Hall 2), and the Saudi Supply Chain Zone, located in Hall 3. These platforms provided exhibitors with opportunities to understand national capability priorities and identify areas for future industrial cooperation. These interactions complemented the core focus of Day Four by demonstrating how talent development, industrial growth, and strategic partnerships are interconnected pillars of the Kingdom’s defense transformation.
Andrew Pearcey, CEO of World Defense Show, said: “Day Four highlights the heart of Saudi Arabia’s defense ambitions – its people. The Future Talent Program showcases the Kingdom’s investment in developing a skilled, innovative, and future-ready workforce. This is the foundation of long-term capability building and one of the most inspiring elements of WDS 2026.”
World Defense Show 2026 continues until February 12, bringing together leading defense companies, official delegations, innovators, and investors. With 1468 exhibitors from 89 countries, live demonstrations, and strategic engagements across air, land, sea, space, and security domains, the event continues to strengthen the role of exhibitors in advancing national capability development and defense industry growth.
