How Qatar's DIMDEX 2026 exhibition will turn warship displays into real defense partnerships.

Qatar’s DIMDEX 2026 exhibition will feature visiting warships, defense firms, and official delegations at the Qatar National Convention Centre from January 19 to 22. The event aims to strengthen defense cooperation by linking maritime demonstrations with direct meetings between military leaders and industry representatives.

At a diplomatic briefing held at the Qatar Emiri Naval Forces base in Umm Al Houl on October 13, 2025, the DIMDEX 2026 Organising Committee outlined plans for the next Doha International Maritime Defence Exhibition and Conference. The four-day event, taking place from 19 to 22 January 2026 at the Qatar National Convention Centre, will feature visiting warships at Hamad Port, specialised workshops, and expanded exhibition space. Organised by the Qatar Armed Forces under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, DIMDEX 2026 is structured to facilitate meetings between defense officials, naval commanders, and companies across the global maritime sector.
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DIMDEX 2026 will take place from January 19 to 22 at the Qatar National Convention Centre, located about 30 minutes from Hamad International Airport, while marking the ninth edition of this four-day international defence and maritime exhibition organised by the Qatar Armed Forces. (Picture source: DIMDEX)

On October 13, 2025, the DIMDEX 2026 Organising Committee held a diplomatic briefing at the Qatar Emiri Naval Forces base in Umm Al Houl to outline preparations for the ninth edition of the Doha International Maritime Defence Exhibition and Conference (DIMDEX 2026). The meeting gathered ambassadors, military and commercial attachés, representatives of diplomatic missions accredited to Qatar, and media members to review the event’s structural changes, its economic and strategic impact, and logistical arrangements for participation. DIMDEX 2026 will take place from 19 to 22 January 2026 at the Qatar National Convention Centre under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Amir of the State of Qatar, Head of State, and Supreme Commander of the Qatar Armed Forces. Organized and hosted by the Qatar Armed Forces, the event will run under the theme “A Global Hub for Defence Innovations: Invest in Possibilities to Shape a Secure Tomorrow,” marking its first-ever four-day format intended to deepen engagement between industry participants, military delegations, and policy makers.

Staff Brigadier (Sea) Abdulbaqi Al-Ansari, Chairman of the Organising Committee of DIMDEX, emphasized during the briefing that the exhibition has evolved into a major international gateway for commercial opportunities and strategic partnerships within the global maritime defence sector. He confirmed that the 2026 edition would feature over 200 national and international defence and related companies, alongside eight national pavilions representing a broad spectrum of technologies. He added that the committee is fully prepared to deliver a more expansive event that reinforces its role as a platform for collaboration, networking, and the facilitation of high-value commercial agreements. Al-Ansari also underlined that DIMDEX continues to grow in significance in light of global challenges, contributing to the advancement of defence capabilities, the protection of national resources, and the assurance of sovereignty and stability. The briefing concluded with confirmation that all logistical and administrative support will be provided to visiting warships, delegations, and participants to ensure a coordinated and efficient event experience.

A major innovation of the 2026 edition will be the introduction of specialized workshops, scheduled from 20 to 22 January, designed as interactive sessions where exhibitors will present advanced technologies, offer strategic insights, and engage with technical and procurement professionals. These workshops were introduced following requests from exhibitors seeking a deeper technical dialogue than traditional booth presentations allow. The Middle East Naval Commanders Conference (MENC), a central component of DIMDEX, will also return under the theme “Defence Diplomacy and Maritime Security Challenges.” Staff Colonel (Air) Jarrah Sabah Al-Abdallah from the Joaan Bin Jassim Academy for Defence Studies, which partners with the MENC, explained that the conference will examine the intersection of diplomacy and maritime security while developing frameworks to enhance regional stability and safeguard critical sea lanes. The conference will include contributions from naval commanders, defence leaders, and academics discussing the latest geopolitical trends and security challenges at sea.

The event will feature an expanded exhibition floor covering 40,000 square metres across seven halls of the Qatar National Convention Centre. Participating companies will include a diverse mix of sectors such as C5ISR, shipbuilding, unmanned systems, logistics, electronic warfare, communications, and port security. The exhibition will also welcome delegations and defence entities from countries including Qatar, Germany, the United Kingdom, Italy, France, Türkiye, China, the Netherlands, the United Arab Emirates, the United States, Canada, Belgium, Norway, Taiwan, South Korea, South Africa, Spain, Finland, Sweden, Greece, and Singapore. For the first time, the four-day schedule aims to provide more opportunities for meetings, follow-ups, and business negotiations, supported by the Delegation Management System, which will coordinate appointments between exhibitors and defence decision makers. The event’s structure is intended to generate greater continuity between exhibition displays, conferences, and direct diplomatic engagement.

DIMDEX 2026 will also feature the display of visiting warships at Hamad Port, which will be open to official delegations and visitors during the exhibition period. These vessels will allow participants to observe naval technologies and platforms in an operational context. A sports tournament for visiting naval crews will also take place, promoting informal exchanges among maritime personnel. The organisers anticipate participation by high-level delegations including ministers of defence, chiefs of staff, naval commanders, coastguard leaders, and senior government officials. Each visiting delegation will benefit from administrative and logistical assistance, with particular attention to coordination of security clearance, pre-registration procedures, and access permits. The location of the venue, approximately thirty minutes from Hamad International Airport and twenty minutes from central Doha, provides convenient access for international participants.

Staff Brigadier (Sea) Al-Ansari noted that DIMDEX’s continued development reflects Qatar’s consistent support for regional and international defence cooperation. The exhibition has grown beyond its original maritime scope into a multi-domain defence event that includes land, air, and cyber technologies, as well as artificial intelligence and integrated systems. This evolution mirrors broader shifts in defence planning toward multidomain integration and digital transformation. The 2026 format also strengthens the connection between exhibition activities and the Middle East Naval Commanders Conference, reinforcing DIMDEX’s dual identity as both a commercial and strategic platform. Organisers expect the combination of longer duration, technical workshops, and structured conference sessions to enable deeper engagement between industry and military leaders, resulting in higher-quality exchanges and more significant outcomes in terms of cooperation and contract agreements.

From an economic and strategic perspective, DIMDEX 2026 is expected to contribute to Qatar’s broader objectives of national development and diversification. By attracting thousands of international visitors, exhibitors, and defence officials, the event will generate economic activity in services, logistics, and tourism while enhancing Doha’s role as a defence and security hub. The organisers highlight that these developments align with the goals of the Qatar National Vision 2030, which seeks to strengthen the country’s economic sustainability and international partnerships. The scale of participation, combined with the inclusion of new workshops and expanded infrastructure, introduces additional challenges related to coordination, security, and scheduling. These will be managed through comprehensive planning, additional staff support, and digital management systems designed to handle the increased flow of delegates and exhibitors.

Overall, DIMDEX 2026 integrates an expanded four-day exhibition, high-level naval and academic conferences, technical workshops, and a display of visiting warships into a unified defence and security event. Its purpose is to strengthen international cooperation, promote industrial engagement, and facilitate negotiation across the full spectrum of maritime and defence technologies. By combining demonstration, dialogue, and structured engagement, the 2026 edition marks a significant evolution in the event’s history. The exhibition continues to function as both a commercial and strategic platform, linking industry, governments, and armed forces in pursuit of effective cooperation and technological advancement.

Written by Jérôme Brahy

Jérôme Brahy is a defense analyst and documentalist at Army Recognition. He specializes in naval modernization, aviation, drones, armored vehicles, and artillery, with a focus on strategic developments in the United States, China, Ukraine, Russia, Türkiye, and Belgium. His analyses go beyond the facts, providing context, identifying key actors, and explaining why defense news matters on a global scale.