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Scheduled for 10 to 12 November 2026, Automechanika Dubai offers UK firms a route to trade visitors and buyers coming from Asia, Africa and the Gulf.
London, UK: Under the UK-Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) free trade agreement, UK suppliers of automotive aftermarket products will find it easier to enter the six Gulf states. Talks between the two sides ended in May 2026, and the deal takes effect once both have completed ratification. Around 93% of what the UK sells to the GCC will be free of tariffs when the agreement is fully implemented. The UK government calculates that duties on goods the country already exports will fall by around £580 million a year.
Regional demand is growing at the same time for automotive aftermarket businesses. Ken Research says the automotive aftermarket across the GCC was worth USD 12 billion in 2025 and forecasts USD 16 billion by 2031.
The 23rd edition of Automechanika Dubai lets UK firms scout the market and start forging contacts before the deal comes into force. It takes place at Dubai Exhibition Centre (DEC), Expo City Dubai, from 10 to 12 November 2026. Under one roof, UK exhibitors and visitors can talk to importers, distributors and workshop groups drawn from throughout the Gulf. Because Dubai is a re-export gateway, those contacts also reach key CIS markets, Africa and Asia. Visitors in the 2025 edition came from 161 countries, while exhibitors came from 63 countries.
The show is organised by Messe Frankfurt Middle East and backed by the UAE Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure (MOEI) and the Dubai Roads and Transport Authority (RTA). The Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) in Dubai acts as Host City Partner.
Chris Lee, who holds the post of Portfolio Director, Mobility & Logistics at Messe Frankfurt Middle East, 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, who is Show Manager for the event. “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.”
In 2026 the organisers expect more than 1,200 exhibitors from over 50 participating countries, with Al Mokamel, AUMOVIO, Hella, Meyle and Hanon Systems among them. Spread over 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 walking the floor will find at least 20 content-led features and activations: specialist conferences, practical training sessions, awards, live demonstrations, competitions, interactive experiences, and new launches. Through the conference programme, the organisers aim to help automotive professionals keep up with market developments and with the new needs of customers, vehicles and workshops.
The audience spans manufacturers, suppliers, distributors, workshop professionals, fleet operators and buyers. This year’s edition will show the broader mix of vehicles, technologies and business models that is shaping the Middle East and Africa aftermarket. British suppliers will find importers, buyers and potential partners from every GCC market and beyond. While the UK-GCC agreement waits to take effect, relationships formed at the show could support UK sales into Gulf markets later on. For more information, click here.