Saudi Arabia’s record defence expenditure is emerging as a central theme ahead of the World Defense Show 2026, reflecting the Kingdom’s response to an increasingly complex security environment and its drive to build a globally competitive defence industry.

Recent budget disclosures and industry briefings indicate that Saudi defence spending has reached historic levels, placing the Kingdom among the world’s largest military investors as it modernises capabilities across land, air, sea, space and cyber domains.

The surge in spending is closely aligned with Saudi Arabia’s long-term strategic planning, which emphasises deterrence, readiness and technological self-reliance at a time of persistent geopolitical instability.

Regional conflicts, threats to maritime trade routes, and rapid advances in military technology have reinforced Riyadh’s focus on maintaining robust defensive capacity while reducing dependence on foreign suppliers through local production and technology transfer.

World Defense Show 2026, to be held in Riyadh, is expected to showcase this transformation.

Building on the success of previous editions, the event will bring together global defence manufacturers, policymakers and military leaders, with Saudi Arabia positioning itself not only as a major customer but as an emerging hub for defence innovation and manufacturing.

Localisation targets under Vision 2030, which aim to source at least half of defence spending domestically, have already led to the expansion of Saudi Military Industries and a growing network of international joint ventures.

Officials and industry executives describe the current spending cycle as both a response to uncertain times and a strategic investment in long-term stability.

By combining large-scale procurement with industrial development, Saudi Arabia is seeking to strengthen national security, support high-skill employment and play a more influential role in shaping future defence technologies and regional security architectures.