DIMDEX 2026 concludes

More than 70 agreements signed, exceeding QAR 18.5 billion in value

Under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Amir of the State of Qatar and Commander-in-Chief of the Qatar Armed Forces, the 9th edition of the Doha International Maritime Defence Exhibition and Conference (DIMDEX 2026) concluded today, hosted and organised by the Qatar Armed Forces.

DIMDEX 2026 marked its largest edition to date. Over four days, the event featured more than 200 local and international companies, eight international pavilions, more than 130 high-level delegations from 82 countries, and over 32,000 visitors across the main exhibition and the international naval vessels display at Hamad Port.

Over 70 agreements, contracts, and memoranda of understanding worth more than QAR 18.5 billion were signed during the event, reinforcing DIMDEX’s status among major international defence exhibitions and conferences.

HE Sheikh Saoud bin Abdulrahman bin Hassan bin Ali Al Thani, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Defence Affairs, praised the success of DIMDEX 2026, commenting: “This leading international event reflects Qatar’s vision to build a strong, integrated ecosystem for defence cooperation based on dialogue, knowledge exchange, and strategic partnerships.”

He added: “Amid rapid geopolitical and technological changes, multilateral partnerships are essential to stability and sustainable security, noting that DIMDEX provided a platform for dialogue among decision-makers, military leaders, experts, and defence industry representatives on shared challenges, including maritime corridors and freedom of navigation, given their significance to economic, social, and security interests.”

He urged for continued collective efforts to strengthen security, adding that the 10th edition in 2028 will aim to further enhance stability and reinforce Qatar’s role as a trusted international partner.

DIMDEX 2026 showcased advanced defence technologies across maritime, land, and air domains, including cybersecurity, counter-piracy, artificial intelligence, C5ISR, and unmanned and remote-control systems.

The event also hosted the Middle East Naval Commanders Conference (MENC), held under the patronage of HE the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Defence Affairs, in cooperation with the Joaan bin Jassim Academy for Defence Studies.

Held under the theme “Defence Diplomacy and Maritime Security Challenges,” the conference brought together experts, academics, and military leaders to discuss regional and global maritime security issues. The dialogue underscored the importance of international cooperation in advancing solutions and reinforcing security and stability, while reinforcing Qatar’s role as a trusted platform for defence diplomacy.

The outcomes of the edition confirm that DIMDEX has evolved into a strategic platform supporting the national economy, knowledge and technology transfer, and national capability-building, in line with Qatar’s vision for defence autonomy and an integrated security ecosystem.