11 November 2026
Automechanika Dubai, the largest international automotive aftermarket trade show in the Middle East, opened on Tuesday 10 November 2026 at the Dubai Exhibition Centre (DEC) in Expo City Dubai. It is the show’s 23rd edition and its first at the new venue after 22 editions at Dubai World Trade Centre. Until 12 November it brings together more than 1,300 exhibitors from over 50 countries across 11 product sections, and Uzbekistan and Sri Lanka have joined the international pavilions for the first time. The organiser cites a forecast by Glasgow Research and Consulting that the Middle East and Africa automotive aftermarket will reach about AED 320 billion (USD 87 billion) by 2034, growing at a compound annual rate of up to 7%.
What happened at Automechanika Dubai 2026
The show is organised by Messe Frankfurt Middle East with government support from the UAE Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure (MOEI), the Dubai Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) and Dubai Customs. The Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) is its Destination Partner. Manufacturers, suppliers, distributors, workshop professionals, fleet operators and buyers meet on one floor for three days of sourcing and networking.
H.E. Eng. Mohamed Ebrahim Hassan Al Mansoori, Undersecretary for Infrastructure and Transportation Affairs at MOEI, opened the Innovation4Mobility stage with a keynote on policy, infrastructure and cross-sector collaboration for sustainable mobility. He said that artificial intelligence and data analysis will help predict challenges, strengthen preparedness and improve efficiency in transport networks.
Participating companies include Platinum Sponsor Al Mokamel, Hella, Meyle and Hanon Systems. According to show manager Tommy Le, local exhibitors account for around 10-15% of the total, and the show hosts 13 international pavilions, including Germany, Türkiye, South Korea and Thailand. The exhibition is open until 18:00 each day.
Automechanika Dubai 2026 in figures
| Indicator | Figure |
|---|---|
| Edition | 23rd, first at Dubai Exhibition Centre |
| Dates | 10-12 November 2026, daily until 18:00 |
| Exhibitors | More than 1,300 |
| Countries | More than 50 |
| Product sections | 11 |
| International pavilions | 13, with Uzbekistan and Sri Lanka joining for the first time |
| Local exhibitors | Around 10-15% of the total |
| Middle East and Africa aftermarket forecast | About AED 320 billion (USD 87 billion) by 2034, up to 7% a year |
| UAE vehicle-parts e-commerce, 2025 | About AED 411 million (USD 112 million) in revenue, ECDB estimate |
| Automechanika Dubai Awards | 748 submissions vs 357 in 2025, 70 finalists in 15 categories |
AED figures are our conversion at the fixed rate of AED 3.6725 per US dollar.
Why the move from DWTC to Expo City matters
For 22 editions Automechanika Dubai was held at Dubai World Trade Centre in the city centre. The organiser describes the move to DEC as a significant development in the show’s 23-year history, reflecting both the scale of its community and its ambition. The new venue offers column-free halls for better stand visibility, direct Dubai Metro access via Expo 2020 Station on the Red Line, which sits right in front of the centre, and more than 10,000 parking spaces.
DEC itself is growing. As we reported in our article on the AED 10 billion expansion of the Dubai Exhibition Centre, the venue is being developed in three phases, and the organiser of Automechanika expects it to reach around 180,000 square metres by 2031. GITEX Global follows Automechanika to the same halls in December.
The organiser positions Automechanika Dubai as the central trading link for markets that are difficult to reach, connecting the wider Middle East, Africa, Asia and key CIS countries. Uzbekistan, one of the two new national pavilions this year, is one of the CIS markets in that reach.
What is changing in the regional aftermarket
According to the organiser, conventional vehicles still account for a substantial share of the regional fleet, while hybrid, electric and connected vehicles are changing requirements for parts, diagnostics, workshop equipment and technical skills. The conference programme follows that shift:
- Modern Workshop: sessions on EV and hybrid servicing, ADAS calibration and software-defined vehicles.
- LABX: fluids and lubricants for hydrogen, e-fuels and other energy systems, opened by ENOC, plus digital authentication and traceability in the value chain.
- Innovation4Mobility: regulation of autonomous mobility across borders with the UN Economic Commission for Europe and the International Road Transport Union, followed by a panel with Kearney, LODD Autonomous, WeRide and K2.
- Aftermarket Central: digital platforms and aftersales models, with speakers from Daimler Truck Middle East Africa, General Motors Africa and Middle East and Al-Futtaim Electric Mobility.
Headline speakers include Sebastian Thrun, co-founder of Google X and Udacity, and Guenther Steiner, CEO of the Red Bull KTM Tech3 MotoGP team and former Haas Formula 1 team principal. The sixth Automechanika Dubai Awards announce winners on 11 November, the second day of the show, after submissions rose 110% year on year.
What it means for companies trading auto parts in the UAE
A trade show of this size is where many suppliers meet their first UAE distributors and where distributors meet new brands. Turning those contacts into regular sales usually requires a local structure. The questions we see most often from parts traders and workshop owners are practical:
- Licence and activity. The licence must list the exact trading activity, for example trading in spare parts and accessories, as worded in the licensing authority’s activity list.
- Mainland or free zone. The choice depends on whether you plan to sell directly to UAE workshops and retailers or to use Dubai as a hub for re-export. Our guide on mainland vs free zone company in the UAE compares both routes.
- Customs registration. A company that imports goods needs to be registered with customs before its first shipment.
- Samples for the next show. According to ICC, the UAE accepts ATA Carnets for goods for exhibitions and fairs, and on 9 November 2026 the UAE started the rollout of the digital eATA Carnet. Details are in our article on the UAE digital ATA Carnet.
- Bank account and visas. A corporate account for supplier payments and a residence visa for the manager who runs the business.
How Atlant Capital can help
Atlant Capital supports foreign suppliers and distributors who want to trade in the UAE after a show like Automechanika Dubai. We help select the licence activity and jurisdiction through our company setup service, prepare documents for corporate bank account opening, and arrange residence visas for founders and staff. If you met partners at the show and are planning the next step, contact our team to discuss the structure.
Conclusion
Automechanika Dubai opened its 23rd edition at the Dubai Exhibition Centre in Expo City with more than 1,300 exhibitors from over 50 countries, 11 product sections and two new national pavilions from Uzbekistan and Sri Lanka. The move ends a 22-edition run at Dubai World Trade Centre and places the show in a venue that is still expanding. The cited forecast puts the Middle East and Africa aftermarket at about AED 320 billion by 2034, while the programme shows how hybrid, electric and connected vehicles are changing what workshops and distributors need to stock and service.
Source: Messe Frankfurt Middle East, Automechanika Dubai, Gulf Today.
FAQ
When and where is Automechanika Dubai 2026?
Automechanika Dubai 2026 runs on 10-12 November 2026 at the Dubai Exhibition Centre in Expo City Dubai, open daily until 18:00. It is the 23rd edition and the first held outside Dubai World Trade Centre, which hosted the previous 22 editions. The venue is served by Expo 2020 Station on the Dubai Metro Red Line.
How many exhibitors take part in Automechanika Dubai 2026?
More than 1,300 exhibitors from over 50 countries take part across 11 product sections. The show has 13 international pavilions, including Germany, Türkiye, South Korea and Thailand, and Uzbekistan and Sri Lanka joined for the first time. Local exhibitors account for around 10-15% of the total.
How big is the Middle East and Africa automotive aftermarket?
Glasgow Research and Consulting, cited by the organiser, forecasts that the Middle East and Africa automotive aftermarket will reach USD 87 billion, about AED 320 billion, by 2034, growing at up to 7% a year. Separately, ECDB estimates UAE vehicle-parts e-commerce revenue at USD 112 million, about AED 411 million, in 2025.
What does a foreign auto parts supplier need to start trading in the UAE?
In practice a supplier needs a UAE company with a licence that lists the parts trading activity, registration with customs before the first import, a corporate bank account and a residence visa for the manager. The main structural choice is between a mainland company for direct sales to UAE workshops and a free zone company for distribution and re-export.
