Munif Al-Harbi

Airshows.. The Features of the Future

21 July 2026 - 23:58 | Last Updated 21 July 2026 - 23:58

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In 2019, I went through a personal experience that I cherish greatly, as I was tasked with heading the media committee for the first international airshow held in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Then the COVID-19 pandemic caused the cancellation of the 2021 edition, before the "World Defense Exhibition" took the place of the "Airshow" and achieved remarkable successes year after year.

Since that experience, I have started looking at airshows from a different perspective. The visitor sees the aircraft on the ground, watches the wonderful air displays, and visits the pavilions showcasing the latest technologies, while those working in this sector see something far beyond that—the place where ideas are born and the contours of the industry are shaped for many years to come.

The day before yesterday, two events considered among the most important airshows in the world kicked off: the Farnborough International Airshow in the United Kingdom and the Oshkosh Airshow in the United States. Some might think that both exhibitions serve the same role, whereas the truth is that each represents a different school of thought in the aviation world.

Farnborough represents the world of deals, technology, and industrial policies; it is where governments, manufacturers, airlines, engine companies, system developers, aviation authorities, and investors meet.

Within its halls, multi-billion-dollar orders are announced, new programs are unveiled, and legislation and regulations affecting the future of the entire industry are discussed. Many decisions that have altered the maps of air transport originated in its meeting rooms.

Oshkosh, on the other hand, represents the culture of aviation, community, enthusiasts, and grassroots innovation. It is where retired pilots meet incoming students, homebuilt aircraft makers meet engineers from the world's largest companies, and families attend with children who dream of becoming pilots.

At Oshkosh, the world of aviation is presented as a passion, a culture, and a lifestyle, rather than merely an industry.

This difference provides us with a comprehensive picture of the aviation industry. Factories need markets, markets need users, and users need a community that believes in aviation, invests in it, interacts with it, and drives it toward the future. This is why both exhibitions have maintained their stature for decades, despite their differing philosophies.

Airshows also fulfill an important economic function. Companies showcase their products and seek clients, suppliers, partners, and investors. At the same time, host countries benefit from the influx of delegations, hotel and restaurant activities, transport services, and global media coverage—gains whose impacts linger long after the event concludes.

However, the most crucial aspect is human development. Thousands of students visit these exhibitions, meeting pilots, engineers, astronauts, and manufacturing experts. Many career paths begin with a single visit, a brief conversation, an experience inside a cockpit, or seeing an engine disassembled before the public; true investment starts by inspiring generations.

Saudi Arabia recognizes the value of these events, which is why recent years have witnessed a growing Saudi presence in the world's most prominent airshows, whether through the General Authority of Civil Aviation, national airlines, or national institutions operating in the sector. This presence reflects the scale of transformation in Saudi aviation and enhances opportunities for attracting investment, transferring knowledge, and building relationships with international partners.

The World Defense Exhibition, held biennially in Mulayh (north of Riyadh), has proven that the Kingdom is capable of organizing high-level international events that combine professional organization, international attendance, media momentum, and economic returns.

Organizing major exhibitions has become an industry in its own right, rather than just a transient event. When the doors of Farnborough and Oshkosh open on the same day, it appears as though the world is celebrating aviation in two different ways: the first speaks the language of economics and strategy, while the second speaks the language of passion and humanity. Between these two languages, the industry grows, its technologies evolve, its markets expand, and new generations find horizons to soar.

The exhibitions conclude after a few days, the aircraft depart, and the pavilion decorations are dismantled, but the impact remains for years to come in corporate files, government plans, the dreams of youth, and the future of an industry that continues to prove the sky is its greatest exhibition.