Automechanika Dubai, running from 10 to 12 November 2026, brings UK firms together with trade professionals and buyers in Asia, Africa and the Gulf.
London, UK: The UK-Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) free trade agreement could give UK automotive aftermarket suppliers stronger access to all six Gulf states. The UK and the GCC concluded their negotiations in May 2026. The deal enters into force once both sides complete ratification. Full implementation of the agreement removes tariffs on around 93% of UK exports to the GCC. Current UK exports stand to save around £580 million a year in duty, according to the UK government’s estimate.
The agreement arrives as demand across the region is growing. Ken Research values the GCC automotive aftermarket at USD 12 billion in 2025 and forecasts USD 16 billion by 2031.
At Automechanika Dubai, UK businesses can size up the market and begin building relationships ahead of the agreement taking effect. Dubai Exhibition Centre (DEC), Expo City Dubai, hosts the 23rd edition from 10 to 12 November 2026. Distributors, importers and workshop groups from across the Gulf are all in one place for UK exhibitors and visitors to meet. Key CIS markets, Africa and Asia also come within reach, since Dubai acts as a re-export gateway. Visitors representing 161 countries and exhibitors representing 63 countries attended the 2025 edition.
The show is organised by Messe Frankfurt Middle East, with government support 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.
Messe Frankfurt Middle East’s Portfolio Director, Mobility & Logistics, Chris Lee, said: “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, the Show Manager for 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.”
Exhibitors numbering more than 1,200 are expected in 2026, coming from over 50 participating countries and including Al Mokamel, AUMOVIO, Hella, Meyle and Hanon Systems. The show covers 11 product sections across the automotive aftermarket value chain: 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 will find at least 20 features and activations that are content-led on the exhibition floor, from specialist conferences, practical training sessions, awards, live demonstrations, competitions, interactive experiences, and new launches. Automotive professionals can use the conference programme to make sense of market developments and prepare for changing customer, vehicle and workshop demands.
This year’s edition, aimed at manufacturers, suppliers, distributors, workshop professionals, fleet operators and buyers, will reflect a widening mix in which vehicles, technologies and business models all shape the aftermarket across the Middle East and Africa. UK suppliers will meet distributors, buyers and partners from the GCC and further afield. Contacts made at the show could support later business in the wider Gulf, with the UK-GCC agreement moving nearer to entry into force. For more information, click here.
