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The World Advanced Manufacturing and Logistics (WAM) Saudi Summit and Expo 2026 has officially come to an end following three days of high-impact discussions, strategic collaborations, and cutting‑edge innovations. The event underscored the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s thriving industrial transformation, driven by the ambitious goals outlined in the Saudi Vision 2030 agenda. Organized by KAOUN International, in strategic partnership with the Saudi Authority for Industrial Cities and Technology Zones (MODON), the exhibition brought together leading industry professionals, policymakers, and innovators from over 45 nations. Under the patronage of the Ministry of Industry, with support from key institutional partners, including MODON, SIDF, AWS, and INFOR, WAM Saudi served as a global platform for exclusive networking, collaborative growth, and practical initiatives, marking a pivotal moment for the future of advanced manufacturing. Alex Nicholl, Vice-President of Kaoun International, highlighted the event’s growing influence, stating: “What distinguishes this year’s edition is the way we have brought the entire ecosystem together. In addition to regular visitors, we have welcomed several serious buyers – mostly from Saudi Arabia as well as other countries – which reflects the Kingdom’s position as one of the most dynamic and rapidly expanding industrial markets globally.” “With this year’s edition, WAM Saudi 2026 has further reinforced its position as a strategic platform accelerating Saudi Arabia’s industrial transformation under Vision 2030. Over the course of the event, we were able to connect with global innovators, manufacturers, logistics leaders, investors, startups, and policymakers from more than 45 countries, creating a commercially active environment that fostered strategic alliances and dialogue,” he added. WAM Saudi continued to distinguish itself through the strong turnout of serious, qualified buyers who engaged directly with exhibitors, formed partnerships, and explored procurement opportunities across the industrial ecosystem. The exhibition was purposefully designed to promote cross-sector cooperation, allowing for open dialogue among solution providers and the decision-makers driving industrial projects across the Kingdom. Beyond its extensive showcase of advanced manufacturing technologies, AI-powered logistics solutions, smart factory systems, and industrial digitalization tools, WAM Saudi also served as a critical gateway for business intelligence. Exporters, investors, consultancies, and staffing agencies gained first-hand insights into emerging industrial demands, localization priorities, and future talent requirements shaping Saudi Arabia’s rapidly evolving industrial landscape. The launch of the dedicated Startup Zone – featuring 44 emerging companies competing for a USD 10,000 prize – also added to WAM Saudi’s mission of fostering innovation across the industrial sector. The competition, evaluated by an independent panel of judges, spotlighted next-generation industrial innovations and facilitated direct engagement between founders and potential investors, which was further supported by the event’s ‘Connections Lounge’ and ‘Main Stage program’. The final day of WAM Saudi 2026 spotlighted the region’s most promising innovators, led by the 1Tank Pitch Competition – a flagship startup pitching platform by 1trepreneur – that connected high-potential startups with investors, government stakeholders, and other ecosystem enablers. The Supernova Pitch Competition also concluded with its award ceremony, where Digital Petroleum secured the USD 10,000 prize. In addition, the highly anticipated Investor Program, together with the three pitch platforms – Supernova Industry X Pitch Competition, River Venture Studio Pitch Competition, and 1Tank – highlighted the region’s most promising innovators and provided them with direct access to C‑suite leaders, investors, and strategic partners. Aligned with Saudi Arabia’s industrial transformation under Vision 2030, the exhibition promoted groundbreaking innovations by spotlighting trends across human-centric automation, Industry 4.0 adoption, the implications of quantum technologies for manufacturing, and the business case for green manufacturing. The ‘Industry Stage’ also stood out as it hosted impactful strategic discussions on autonomous intelligence, next‑generation production systems, and global best practices, while also highlighting Saudi Arabia’s competitiveness in a fragmented global economy, the evolving role of digital twins in industrial decision-making, and AI’s role in transforming the sector. WAM Saudi 2026 truly demonstrated the Kingdom’s growing influence as a global hub for industrial innovation, collaboration, and investment. By uniting international thought leaders, policymakers, and industry experts, the event has not only advanced the goals of Vision 2030 but also laid the groundwork to shape the next phase of industrial transformation.
