SBJBC roundtable at the Farnborough International Airshow 2026
Executive Summary
The Saudi British Joint Business Council (SBJBC) held an invitation-only roundtable at the Farnborough International Airshow on 22nd July 2026, opening a twelve-month Defence and Resilience Programme. The session brought together UK primes, small and medium-sized enterprises, defence analysts, education and training providers, financiers, legal and advisory firms, and representatives of the UK and Saudi governments. The discussion was held under the Chatham House Rule, and contributions in this report are therefore attributed to organisations rather than individuals.
The conversation examined how UK firms can enter and grow in the Saudi defence and aerospace market as the Kingdom pursues its Vision 2030 industrial goals. Several themes recurred through the morning but partnership was the word returned to most often, whether between the two governments, between primes and their supply chains, or between UK firms and Saudi partners who understand the local market. Localisation, delivered through the Industrial Participation Programme, shapes key routes into the Kingdom. Human capital and training emerged as a priority in their own right rather than a supporting concern, with competency frameworks, dual-use career paths, and Saudi engineering talent all raised. Finance and cash flow were identified as practical constraints for smaller firms, and export finance support was set out in response. Counter-drone capability, air and missile defence, and the protection of critical infrastructure ran throughout, reflecting the current security environment across the Gulf.
To read the full post-roundtable report: [UK-Saudi Defence Roundtable FIA 2026]
