UK businesses can reach Gulf, African and Asian buyers and trade professionals at Automechanika Dubai, scheduled for 10 to 12 November 2026.
London, UK: UK suppliers of automotive aftermarket products stand to gain better access to the six Gulf states 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 comes into force when ratification has been completed by both sides. Once the agreement is fully implemented, tariffs will be lifted on around 93% of exports sent from the UK to the Gulf bloc. Across the goods the UK currently exports, government estimates put annual duty savings at around £580 million.
Demand in the region is also growing, which adds to the appeal for aftermarket firms. Ken Research valued the GCC automotive aftermarket at USD 12 billion in 2025 and projects that it will reach USD 16 billion by 2031.
Automechanika Dubai offers UK companies a chance to get to know the market and start building relationships before the agreement takes effect. Its 23rd edition is set for 10 to 12 November 2026 in Expo City Dubai, at Dubai Exhibition Centre (DEC). UK exhibitors and visitors can meet, under one roof, workshop groups, importers and distributors from throughout the Gulf. Because Dubai serves as a re-export gateway, that reach stretches to key CIS markets, Africa and Asia. The 2025 edition attracted visitors from 161 countries, while 63 countries were represented among exhibitors.
The show is run by Messe Frankfurt Middle East, with government backing from 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 serves as Host City Partner of the show.
Messe Frankfurt Middle East’s Portfolio Director, Mobility & Logistics, 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 Automechanika Dubai Show Manager Tommy Le. “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 Hanon Systems, Meyle, Hella, AUMOVIO and Al Mokamel. The show floor is organised into 11 product sections that span 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.
At least 20 content-led features and activations will appear on the floor: specialist conferences, practical training sessions, awards, live demonstrations, competitions, interactive experiences, and new launches. The conference programme aims to help automotive professionals grasp developments in the market and get ready for the evolving needs of customers, vehicles and workshops.
The audience will include buyers, fleet operators, workshop professionals, distributors, suppliers and manufacturers, and this year’s edition will mirror a wider blend of vehicle types, technologies and business models now shaping the aftermarket in the Middle East and Africa. UK suppliers can use the show to meet partners, buyers and distributors based throughout the GCC and beyond. With the UK-GCC agreement edging closer to entry into force, such contacts could underpin later trade with Gulf markets. For more information, click here.
