GCC trade deal opens new aftermarket opportunities for UK automotive suppliers
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Buyers and industry professionals from the Gulf, Africa and Asia will meet UK businesses at Automechanika Dubai, which is held from 10 to 12 November 2026.
London, UK: UK automotive aftermarket suppliers will gain stronger market access across 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 enters into force when both parties have completed ratification. When it is fully implemented, tariffs will disappear on around 93% of UK exports to the GCC, and the UK government expects around £580 million in annual duty savings across the goods Britain currently exports.
Demand in the region is also rising for automotive aftermarket businesses, which is the backdrop to the agreement. Ken Research values the GCC automotive aftermarket at USD 12 billion in 2025 and forecasts that it will hit USD 16 billion by 2031.
UK companies that want to size up the market and start building relationships before the agreement takes effect can do so at Automechanika Dubai. The 23rd edition takes place at Dubai Exhibition Centre (DEC) in Expo City Dubai, from 10 to 12 November 2026. UK exhibitors and visitors alike can meet distributors, importers and workshop groups from every part of the Gulf in a single venue. Dubai also works as a re-export gateway, opening routes to key CIS markets as well as Africa and Asia. Visitors from 161 countries and exhibitors from 63 countries attended the 2025 edition.
Automechanika Dubai 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 Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) in Dubai serves as the show’s Host City Partner.
Speaking for Messe Frankfurt Middle East, Portfolio Director, Mobility & Logistics Chris Lee 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,” said 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.”
Organisers expect more than 1,200 exhibitors in 2026, coming from over 50 participating countries, among them Hanon Systems, Hella, Meyle, AUMOVIO and Al Mokamel. Covering the automotive aftermarket value chain, the show is split 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 be found on the show floor: specialist conferences, practical training sessions, awards, live demonstrations, competitions, interactive experiences, and new launches. Automotive professionals are the target audience of the conference programme, which is intended to help them follow market developments and get ready for shifting customer, vehicle and workshop demands.
Buyers, fleet operators, workshop professionals, distributors, suppliers and manufacturers are all expected to attend, and this year’s edition will mirror the vehicles, technologies and business models that are currently reshaping the Middle East and Africa aftermarket. UK suppliers will find at the show a venue for meeting partners, buyers and distributors from throughout the GCC and beyond. As the UK-GCC agreement edges closer to entering into force, the contacts made there can underpin later trade across the Gulf. For more information, click here.
