Saudi ambassador to UK visits Farnborough Airshow 2026, discusses defense ties

Prince Abdullah bin Khalid bin Sultan bin Abdulaziz, Saudi ambassador to the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland, visited the Farnborough International Airshow 2026, held in the UK.

During his visit, he met with senior British officials and leaders from leading British and international companies in the defense, aviation, and aerospace sectors to explore opportunities for cooperation in advanced technologies, innovation, and industrial development.

On the sidelines of the airshow, Prince Abdullah held discussions focused on advancing defense cooperation between Saudi Arabia and the United Kingdom, serving the shared interests of both countries and contributing to regional and international security, in line with their close strategic partnership.

Meetings with defense and industry officials

The ambassador’s meetings included senior officials from the UK Ministry of Defence, such as Robert Pearce, UK National Armaments Director; Avril Jolliffe, Director General for Industry, Trade and Economic Security at the Ministry of Defence; and Vice Admiral Edward Ahlgren, UK Senior Defence Advisor for the Middle East and North Africa.

He also met with executives from leading British and international companies including BAE Systems, Eurofighter, MBDA, and Rolls-Royce. Discussions focused on technology transfer, research and innovation, and talent development, supporting the goals of Saudi Vision 2030 and strengthening industrial partnerships between the two countries.

Boosting industrial and defense partnership

The meetings reviewed existing areas of cooperation between Saudi Arabia and the UK and explored ways to develop them further, identifying new avenues aligned with evolving priorities in defense and advanced industries.

The ambassador reaffirmed Saudi Arabia’s commitment to encouraging British companies to expand their long-term industrial presence in the Kingdom and actively participate in localization initiatives. He noted that expanding cooperation in advanced technologies and innovation would enhance the competitiveness and resilience of both countries’ defense sectors and solidify their enduring strategic partnership.

Industry executives from BAE Systems, Eurofighter Typhoon, MBDA, and Rolls-Royce also took part in the meetings, where they discussed opportunities for collaboration and talent development to serve mutual interests and support industrial growth in Saudi Arabia.