The ninth edition of the Doha International Maritime Defense Exhibition and Conference (DIMDEX 2026), which ended in Doha on Thursday, saw more than 70 agreements, contracts, and memoranda of understanding signed with a total value of over QAR18.5 billion ($5.06 billion).
The event was hosted at the Qatar National Convention Centre, on the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Amir of the State of Qatar, Head of State, and the Supreme Commander of Qatar Armed Forces, and hosted and organized by the Qatari Armed Forces.
DIMDEX 2026 was the biggest in the history of the event since its launch. It spanned over four days during which more than 200 local and international firms participated, as well as eight large international pavilions. There were over 130 high-level official delegations that represented 82 countries.
The exhibition also registered good attendance with more than 32,000 visitors attending the main exhibition, besides the presentation of visiting international warships at Hamad Port.
DIMDEX 2026 featured the best innovations, technologies, and defense equipment in the maritime, land, and air sectors, support systems and advanced technologies, including cybersecurity and anti-piracy systems, artificial intelligence, command control, communications, computers, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (C5ISR) systems, remote-control systems, and unmanned platforms.
The event also organized the Middle East Naval Commanders Conference (MENC), which was hosted, under the patronage of His Excellency Sheikh Saoud bin Abdulrahman bin Hassan bin Ali Al Thani, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Defense Affairs, in collaboration with the Joaan Bin Jassim Academy for Defense Studies.
The conference, convened under the theme “Defence Diplomacy and Maritime Security Challenges,” was an occasion where a highly distinguished group of experts, academics, and military leaders discussed various issues and challenges in the region as well as internationally, focusing on the importance of international cooperation in the formulation of solutions and in terms of improving security and stability.
The conference was also an important forum through which the perspectives on maritime issues were still being shared, and the State of Qatar was reinstated as a reliable platform of defense diplomacy and the willingness to contribute to the dialogue, cooperation, and collective security.
The results of this edition prove that DIMDEX has grown from a specialized exhibition to a strategic platform that helps to support the national economy, transfer knowledge and technologies, and develop national capabilities according to the vision of the State of Qatar to increase independence in defense decision-making and the coordination of its security ecosystem.
Sheikh Saoud bin Abdulrahman bin Hassan bin Ali Al Thani, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Defense Affairs, praised the success achieved by the ninth edition of DIMDEX and the qualitative results it delivered.
He said, “We are pleased with the significant success achieved by this edition at all levels. This leading international event embodies the vision of the State of Qatar to establish an integrated framework for defence cooperation founded on responsible dialogue, the exchange of knowledge, and the development of strategic partnerships. In light of rapid geopolitical and technological transformations, multilateral partnerships have become a fundamental pillar in achieving stability and sustainable security. DIMDEX has served as an effective platform that brings together decision-makers, military leaders, experts, and representatives of the defence industry in in-depth dialogue, underscoring the importance of coordination and integrated efforts in addressing shared challenges, particularly those related to waterways and freedom of navigation, given their direct impact on economic, social, and security sectors.”
