Automechanika Dubai, held from 10 to 12 November 2026, puts UK businesses in front of buyers and trade professionals from the Gulf, Africa and Asia.
London, UK: Suppliers of UK automotive aftermarket products stand to gain stronger market access across the six Gulf states through the UK-Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) free trade agreement. Negotiations between the UK and the GCC wrapped up in May 2026, and the deal enters into force once both sides complete ratification. When it is fully implemented, tariffs will be removed from around 93% of UK exports to the GCC. The UK government puts annual duty savings across current UK exports at around £580 million.
Regional demand is growing at the same time. Ken Research valued the GCC automotive aftermarket at USD 12 billion in 2025 and forecasts that it will reach USD 16 billion by 2031.
Before the agreement takes effect, UK businesses can use Automechanika Dubai to test the market and build relationships. The show’s 23rd edition takes place at Dubai Exhibition Centre (DEC), Expo City Dubai, from 10 to 12 November 2026. UK exhibitors and visitors can meet, under a single roof, distributors, importers and workshop groups drawn from every part of the Gulf. Because Dubai acts as a re-export gateway, that reach stretches into Africa, Asia and key CIS markets. The 2025 edition attracted exhibitors from 63 countries, while its visitors arrived from 161 countries.
Government backing for the show, which Messe Frankfurt Middle East organises, comes from the Dubai Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) and the UAE Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure (MOEI). The Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) in Dubai serves as Host City Partner.
Portfolio Director, Mobility & Logistics at Messe Frankfurt Middle East, Chris Lee, commented: “After more than two decades at Dubai World Trade Centre, moving to Dubai Exhibition Centre at Expo City Dubai feels like the right next step for Automechanika Dubai. The market is changing quickly, and the show needs the space and flexibility to keep changing with it.”
“What we are seeing across the region is a more varied aftermarket,” explained Tommy Le, Show Manager, Automechanika Dubai. “Conventional vehicles remain a major part of the market, but hybrid, electric and connected vehicles are changing the products, skills and technical knowledge the industry needs. Automechanika Dubai 2026 will bring that evolving mix together, giving businesses the opportunity to understand where the market is heading and build the relationships they need as the show moves to Dubai Exhibition Centre for the first time.”
Organisers expect more than 1,200 exhibitors in 2026, coming from over 50 participating countries, with Al Mokamel, AUMOVIO, Hella, Meyle and Hanon Systems among them. Spanning 11 product sections along the automotive aftermarket value chain, the exhibition covers parts and components, electrics and electronics, tyres and wheels, batteries and technology, diagnostics and repair, vehicle care and detailing, and digital solutions and services.
Visitors on the show floor will find at least 20 content-led activations and features, among them specialist conferences, practical training sessions, awards, live demonstrations, competitions, interactive experiences, and new launches. Helping automotive professionals follow market developments and get ready for shifting customer, vehicle and workshop needs is the aim of the conference programme.
Buyers, fleet operators, workshop professionals, distributors, suppliers and manufacturers are all expected, and this year’s edition will reflect the wider range of vehicles, technologies and business models that now shape the Middle East and Africa aftermarket. UK suppliers can use it to meet partners, buyers and distributors from the GCC and beyond. As the UK-GCC agreement edges closer to entering into force, those relationships could underpin future trade across the Gulf. For more information, click here.
