UK companies attending Automechanika Dubai from 10 to 12 November 2026 can reach trade buyers and sector specialists based in the Gulf, Africa and Asia.
London, UK: Suppliers of UK automotive aftermarket products will gain stronger access to the six Gulf states under the UK-Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) free trade agreement. The UK and the GCC finished negotiating in May 2026, and the deal will apply once ratification is complete on each side. Full implementation will see tariffs lifted on around 93% of UK exports to the GCC. Across current UK exports, the UK government puts annual duty savings at around £580 million.
Rising regional demand adds to the agreement’s relevance for automotive aftermarket businesses. Figures from Ken Research put the GCC automotive aftermarket at USD 12 billion in 2025, with growth to USD 16 billion expected by 2031.
Automechanika Dubai offers UK businesses a chance to scout the market and form relationships before the agreement takes effect. Its 23rd edition is held at Dubai Exhibition Centre (DEC), Expo City Dubai, from 10 to 12 November 2026. UK exhibitors and visitors can reach importers, distributors and workshop groups from throughout the Gulf all in one place. Because Dubai acts as a re-export gateway, that reach stretches to Africa, Asia and key CIS markets. Visitors from 161 countries and exhibitors from 63 countries attended the 2025 edition.
The show 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.
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, who is 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, with Hanon Systems, Hella, Meyle, Al Mokamel and AUMOVIO among them. Along the automotive aftermarket value chain, the show will be organised into 11 product sections: digital solutions and services, vehicle care and detailing, diagnostics and repair, batteries and technology, tyres and wheels, electrics and electronics, and parts and components.
Visitors on the show floor will find at least 20 content-led features and activations, among them new launches, interactive experiences, competitions, live demonstrations, awards, practical training sessions and specialist conferences. The conference programme aims to help automotive professionals track how the market is developing and prepare for changing customer, vehicle and workshop requirements.
The event is set to draw manufacturers, suppliers, distributors, workshop professionals, fleet operators and buyers, while this year’s edition will mirror the wider blend of vehicles, technologies and business models now shaping the aftermarket of the Middle East and Africa. UK suppliers can use the event to connect with partners, buyers and distributors throughout the GCC and beyond. As the UK-GCC agreement edges closer to entry into force, such contacts could underpin future trade across the Gulf. For more information, click here.
