UK companies can meet Gulf, African and Asian buyers and trade professionals at Automechanika Dubai, which runs from 10 to 12 November 2026.
London, UK: Market access across the six Gulf states stands to improve for UK automotive aftermarket suppliers under 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. Tariffs will no longer apply to around 93% of British exports to the GCC once the agreement is fully implemented. The UK government estimates yearly duty savings of around £580 million on what the country currently exports.
Regional demand for automotive aftermarket products is growing as the agreement approaches. Ken Research puts the GCC automotive aftermarket at USD 12 billion in 2025, with a forecast of USD 16 billion by 2031.
UK businesses can use Automechanika Dubai to explore the market and build relationships before the agreement takes effect. The 23rd edition takes place at Dubai Exhibition Centre (DEC), Expo City Dubai, from 10 to 12 November 2026. UK exhibitors and visitors can meet Gulf-wide distributors, importers and workshop groups under one roof. Because Dubai serves as a re-export gateway, that reach stretches to key CIS markets as well as Africa and Asia. The 2025 show attracted visitors representing 161 countries, while its exhibitors came from 63 countries.
Automechanika Dubai is organised by Messe Frankfurt Middle East, with government backing 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.
Explaining the move, Chris Lee, Portfolio Director, Mobility & Logistics at Messe Frankfurt Middle East, 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, Show Manager of 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.”
Over 50 participating countries will be represented in 2026 by more than 1,200 exhibitors, among them Hanon Systems, Hella, Meyle, AUMOVIO and Al Mokamel. At the exhibition, the automotive aftermarket value chain is divided into 11 product sections: parts and components, electrics and electronics, tyres and wheels, batteries and technology, diagnostics and repair, vehicle care and detailing, and digital solutions and services.
At least 20 content-led features and activations will appear on the show floor: specialist conferences, practical training sessions, awards, live demonstrations, competitions, interactive experiences, and new launches. Through the conference programme, automotive professionals can follow market developments and get ready for shifting customer, vehicle and workshop requirements.
Buyers, fleet operators, workshop professionals, distributors, suppliers and manufacturers are all drawn to the event. The Middle East and Africa aftermarket is being shaped by a wider blend of vehicles, technologies and business models, and this year’s edition will reflect that. UK suppliers can use the show to meet partners, buyers and distributors from across the GCC and beyond. As the UK-GCC agreement edges closer to entry into force, the contacts made there could underpin later trade across the Gulf. For more information, click here.
