Gulf defense spending surges
The UAE and Saudi Arabia are staging a notable presence at IDEF 2025, Turkey’s major defense industry exhibition taking place in Istanbul. Both nations are leveraging the expo to reinforce regional partnerships and solidify new joint ventures.
Welcome back to Al-Monitor Gulf.
It’s a big week for Gulf defense industries. At Turkey’s IDEF 2025 expo, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia are not just showcasing homegrown firepower — they’re pitching themselves as global defense innovators.
Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia is spearheading a new investment push in Syria, Qatar has entered the race to host the 2036 Olympics and EDGE Group is doubling down on NATO-facing deals with a new Hungary partnership.
All that and more.
