Defence events in the Middle East

EIAS is the only dedicated international airshow in Africa and the Arab world outside the Gulf, giving defence suppliers direct access to Egyptian Armed Forces procurement leadership, African air forces and Middle Eastern civil aviation authorities simultaneously. The VIP Delegation Programme channels over 100 government and military delegations directly to exhibitor stands, compressing procurement cycles. For SMEs and startups, it offers a cost-effective entry point into two of the fastest-growing defence and commercial aviation markets globally at a show that already drew 200+ exhibitors in its inaugural edition.

ADEX is the primary gateway for defence suppliers seeking access to Azerbaijan's growing procurement budget and to Caspian/Central Asian buyers who attend in force as official delegations. The direct presence of Azerbaijan's Ministry of Defence Industry — which invites and hosts delegations — means exhibitors gain structured access to end-user decision-makers rarely available at larger Western shows. For SMEs and startups, a dedicated startup track and a relatively lower cost-of-entry compared with DSEI or Eurosatory make it a cost-effective route into a strategically active regional market.

SOFEX is the only dedicated SOF and homeland-security exhibition in the Middle East and North Africa, making it the primary gateway for defence suppliers seeking access to Arab and broader MENA procurement communities. Delegations are headed by Ministers of Defence, Chiefs of Staff, and Special Operations Commanders, meaning exhibitors engage directly with senior decision-makers and procurement directorates rather than intermediaries. For SMEs and startups, the new Elite Badge tier and digital matchmaking programme lower the barrier to securing pre-arranged meetings with high-value buyers.

A bridge into North African and MENA procurement. Useful for firms diversifying beyond the Gulf into the wider region.

The entry point to Gulf defence budgets and offset programs. High-value procurement decisions are made here; relationship-building and local partner introductions matter more than booth size.

Tied directly to Saudi localisation (Vision 2030) targets and large procurement budgets. Localisation and joint-venture commitments are often the price of entry.