India highlighted its growing indigenous defence manufacturing strength at the World Defence Show (WDS) 2026 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, with Minister of State for Defence Sanjay Seth leading a high-level delegation to the global defence exhibition held on February 8–9.
The Minister inaugurated the first-ever India Pavilion at the event, showcasing the manufacturing capabilities of Defence Public Sector Undertakings (DPSUs) and private Indian defence companies. He also attended the opening ceremony of the exhibition alongside international dignitaries and visited exhibition areas of Saudi Arabian Military Industries (SAMI) and the Saudi Ministry of Defence, where he reviewed their latest indigenous technological developments.
During the visit, Seth held bilateral discussions with Dr Khaled bin Hussein Al-Biyari, Assistant Minister of Defence for Executive Affairs, Saudi Arabia, focusing on strengthening cooperation and engagement between the armed forces of the two countries. He also met Dr Faleh bin Abdullah Al-Sulaiman, Governor of the General Authority for Defence Development (GADD), highlighting India’s emergence as a global defence export hub and inviting Saudi officials to visit India’s research and development facilities to explore opportunities for co-development of defence technologies.
The Minister also met Ahmed bin Abdulaziz Al-Ohali, Governor of the General Authority of Military Industries (GAMI), where discussions centred on expanding strategic cooperation and strengthening defence supply chain ecosystems between India and Saudi Arabia. He proposed a joint GAMI-led delegation visit to India to provide first-hand exposure to India’s defence manufacturing and innovation capabilities.
Addressing senior executives from Indian and Saudi defence companies at an event hosted by the Indian Embassy in Riyadh, Seth underscored the importance of joint collaboration to achieve self-reliance in defence production. He reiterated India’s commitment to supporting global defence requirements under the “Make in India, Make for the World” vision.
On the sidelines of the exhibition, the Minister also visited Diriyah, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the birthplace of the Saudi state. He later interacted with members of the Indian diaspora at the Indian Embassy, highlighting India’s progress under Prime Minister Narendra Modi in areas such as women’s empowerment, healthcare and digital literacy, while advocating a ‘Nation First’ approach.
