Buyers and trade professionals from Asia, Africa and the Gulf will be within reach of UK businesses at Automechanika Dubai, which runs from 10 to 12 November 2026.
London, UK: UK automotive aftermarket suppliers are set to gain easier market access to the six Gulf states under the UK-Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) free trade agreement. Negotiations between the UK and the GCC finished in May 2026, and the deal comes into force once ratification is complete on both sides. When it is fully implemented, around 93% of UK exports bound for the GCC will no longer face tariffs. By UK government estimate, that translates into annual duty savings of around £580 million across what Britain currently exports.
Regional demand is growing at the same time, which matters to aftermarket businesses. Ken Research puts the GCC automotive aftermarket at USD 12 billion in 2025, with a forecast of USD 16 billion by 2031.
Before the agreement takes effect, Automechanika Dubai lets UK companies test the market and develop new relationships. Its 23rd edition takes place at Dubai Exhibition Centre (DEC), Expo City Dubai, from 10 to 12 November 2026. Under one roof, UK exhibitors and visitors can meet distributors, importers and workshop groups from throughout the Gulf. Because Dubai acts as a re-export gateway, that reach stretches to key CIS markets, Africa and Asia. In the 2025 edition, visitors came from 161 countries, while exhibitors came from 63 countries.
The show is organised 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 Host City Partner is Dubai’s Department of Economy and Tourism (DET).
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,” according to Tommy Le, Show Manager at 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, representing over 50 participating countries and including Al Mokamel, AUMOVIO, Hella, Meyle and Hanon Systems. Across the automotive aftermarket value chain, the show is organised 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 run on the show floor, including 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 needs.
This year’s edition is aimed at manufacturers, suppliers, distributors, workshop professionals, fleet operators and buyers, and it will mirror the wider blend of vehicles, technologies and business models now influencing the aftermarket in the Middle East and Africa. UK suppliers will find at the show a venue to meet distributors, buyers and partners from the GCC and beyond. As the UK-GCC agreement edges closer to entering into force, the contacts made there could underpin later trade throughout the Gulf. For more information, click here.
