Riyadh, February 12, 2026, SPA -- World Defense Show 2026, organized by the General Authority for Military Industries (GAMI), continued its fourth day in Riyadh, focusing on developing national talent and building the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's long-term defense capabilities, in line with localization targets and strengthening the sustainable defense industries ecosystem in the Kingdom, in pursuit of Saudi Vision 2030 targets. Day Four was dedicated to the Future Talent Program, held in the main theater (Hall 2), which took center stage as oneof the show’s most strategic initiatives for supporting national competencies and empowering young Saudis to engage in specialized career paths within the defense industry sector. The program, sponsored by BAE Systems, was delivered in cooperation with a number of government entities. It brought together students, early-career professionals, and industry experts for sessions exploring the future skills required to support the Kingdom’s defense transformation. Discussions focused on aligning education outputs with industry needs, building technical capabilities for next-generation defense roles, and preparing Saudi talent to contribute to advanced domains such as cybersecurity, unmanned systems, artificial intelligence, space, and emerging technologies. The program opened with a strong emphasis on the priority of developing human capital and preparing national cadres capable of keeping pace with global technological changes. Senior leaders from the Ministry of Defense, GAMI, and related entities contributed to the dialogue, underscoring the Kingdom’s commitment to creating structured career and development pathways for Saudi youth within the defense and security industries ecosystem. GAMI Governor Ahmad Abdulaziz Al-Ohali highlighted the importance of investing in national competencies, noting that developing human capabilities is the fundamental pillar for achieving the Kingdom’s targets in the defense industries sector. “Through initiatives such as the Future Talent Program, we are working to equip Saudi youth with skills, knowledge, and creativity, which strengthens the sector’s competitiveness and contributes to achieving Saudi Vision 2030 targets,” he said. Meanwhile, engagements continued across wider show platforms, including the Meet the KSA Government Program, held in the main theater (Hall 2), and the Saudi Supply Chain Zone theater in Hall 3. These platforms provided exhibitors and investors with direct opportunities to understand national capability priorities and explore opportunities for industrial cooperation and future partnerships, supporting the integration of talent development, industry and investment pathways.
World Defense Show Chief Executive Officer Andrew Pearcey explained that Day Four embodies the essence of the Kingdom’s military industries directions, affirming that the Future Talent Program reflects the Kingdom’s commitment to preparing a generation capable of keeping pace with global defense transformations and building long-term capabilities that enhance the readiness of national defense industries. World Defense Show 2026 continues until February 12. With 1,468 exhibitors from 89 countries and live demonstrations and advanced technologies across land, air, sea, space, and security domains, the event contributes to supporting national capability development and driving the growth of the defense industries ecosystem in the Kingdom.
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