Saudi Arabia is a leading global platform in future defense technologies
His Excellency Dr. Abdullah bin Sharaf Al-Ghamdi, President of the Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA), affirmed that the World Defence Exhibition 2026 embodies the leading position that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has attained as a pivotal international platform for shaping the future of the smart defense sector. This came during his visit to the exhibition, where he emphasized that this global event is not merely a space to showcase the latest global innovations in advanced technologies, but also a testament to the Kingdom's ambition to lead the digital transformation in one of its most strategic sectors.
Strategic background: Vision 2030, SDAIA, and the World Defence Exhibition
This trend comes within the context of the major transformations the Kingdom is undergoing as part of Vision 2030, which aims to diversify the national economy and reduce dependence on oil, with a focus on localizing advanced military industries by more than 50%. The Saudi Data & Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA), established in 2019, plays a vital role in achieving these goals by leading the national agenda for data and artificial intelligence. Furthermore, the World Defense Show, organized by the General Authority for Military Industries (GAMI), has quickly become one of the world's leading defense and security exhibitions, attracting major international companies and decision-makers to exchange expertise and build partnerships.
The importance of the event and its expected impact
Dr. Al-Ghamdi explained that the exhibition provides an exceptional opportunity to build strategic, cross-border partnerships, enabling national talent to lead cutting-edge technology projects. He noted that the high-caliber presence of leading global technology companies reflects the exhibition's importance as a key destination for these companies, which aim to enhance the exchange of expertise with their counterparts in the Kingdom and build collaborative relationships that contribute to knowledge transfer and the localization of modern technologies. Both locally and internationally, this event reinforces Saudi Arabia's position as a regional hub for technological innovation, opens up broad horizons for investment in the defense sector, and supports the growth of the local defense industries ecosystem.
The role of artificial intelligence in enhancing national security
During his tour of the exhibition, the President of SDAIA was briefed on the latest advanced solutions in the fields of data, artificial intelligence, and their defense and security applications. He emphasized that SDAIA is working in close collaboration with all government entities to ensure the Kingdom's leadership in employing artificial intelligence as a strategic tool to enhance security and sustainable economic growth. These applications include intelligent analytics systems, data-driven decision-making, and automation and machine learning-based solutions, which play a crucial role in improving the efficiency of smart systems and enhancing the Kingdom's technological readiness.
