Exclusive: Some UAE companies pull out of Saudi defence show as Gulf rift spills into business
Not sure which these
"some UAE Companies" are...
Honestly..., I only know
EDGE. Maybe there might be a handful of others.
Good, we don't need the participation of Israeli companies with UAE flags, any way.
In all seriousness, this is the Abu Dhabi regime (the other 6 emirates of UAE are not guilty of their idiotic foreign policies and leadership) being frustrated that KSA is destroying 10+ years of their mischief, separatist proxies etc. (in cooperation with the Zionists) across the Arab and Muslim world in the span of a few months, with only the Sudanese file remaining to be solved among the main outstanding issues.
It has reached such a point that other leaders in the UAE, are openly calling out the Abu Dhabi regime and their mischief.
Members of the Al-Qasimi royal family (Sharjah and Ras al-Khaimah) had to publicly denounce the policies of one particular individual (Al-Nahyan member) on X until he deleted the Tweet, probably due to internal pressure.
The Abu Dhabi regime is becoming a pariah within the Arab and Muslim world. It is a shame what a stupid leadership in Abu Dhabi can do to malign an entire country and people that we otherwise share almost everything with. Hence the hostility and disappointment not being with the locals or ordinary Emiratis but the Abu Dhabi leadership and their henchmen and online propagandists.
HD Hyundai Heavy Industries Aims to Win Saudi Frigate Deal at World Defense Show in Riyadh.
HD Hyundai Heavy Industries is participating in the Middle East's largest defense exhibition, launching an intensive effort to secure the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's next-generation frigate program.
The company stated in a press release issued on February 8 that it will participate in the World Defense Show (WDS) 2026, held in Riyadh through February 12 local time.
During the exhibition, HD Hyundai Heavy Industries will establish a joint pavilion with LIG Nex1, the Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI), and EOST to comprehensively showcase advanced warship construction technologies and maritime defense capabilities.
Conceptual design of HD Hyundai Heavy Industries pavilion at WDS 2026 / Courtesy of the companyThe World Defense Show is held biennially, attracting 770 defense companies from 76 countries worldwide this year, with expectations of over 100,000 visitors. The event is also anticipated to bring together key decision-makers in the global defense market, including the Middle East region.
HD Hyundai Heavy Industries is targeting the Saudi Navy modernization program, which includes the introduction of new frigates. In this context, the company will unveil eight types of warships, including the 6,000-ton export frigate (HDF-6000).
The HDF-6000 was developed based on the company's expertise and technologies, which have built the advanced Sejong the Great and Jungwoo the Great destroyers, respectively—both classified among the world's most advanced Aegis-equipped destroyers. The new frigate is designed as an Aegis-class frigate, larger than traditional frigates, with significant improvements in equipment and combat performance.
During the exhibition, the company intends to focus on presenting integrated solutions for the Saudi Navy modernization program to senior officials from the Saudi Ministry of Defense and Navy. It emphasized that it will showcase its capabilities in design, construction, and program management, alongside its experience in local manufacturing and maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) services, drawing on its track record at the SIMA shipyard in Peru.
In line with the Saudi government's policy to increase local content ratios, the company will also present a plan for local construction within the Kingdom. In the event of winning the frigate contract, HD Hyundai is considering a plan to gradually increase the local manufacturing ratio for the HDF-6000 frigate, leveraging the Saudi IMI shipyard—a joint venture between HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering and Saudi Aramco.
During WDS events, HD Hyundai Heavy Industries will sign a joint memorandum of understanding with the Saudi Ministry of Investment and 12 Korean companies, including LIG Nex1 and STX Engine, aimed at establishing a local supply chain within the Kingdom. This step seeks to strengthen cooperation under the Saudi Industrial Participation Program (IPP) and support joint expansion in the Saudi market.
Jo Won-ho, President of HD Hyundai Heavy Industries, said:
“We will do our utmost to win the Saudi next-generation frigate program through a strategy based on local manufacturing and industrial collaboration, leveraging the IMI shipyard, the largest shipbuilding facility in the Middle East and North Africa.”
Would it be too hasty to expect the F-35SA to be delivered this year already? At least the first ones.
