Automechanika Dubai 2025, the Middle East and Africa’s largest automotive aftermarket exhibition, was officially inaugurated by H.H. Sheikh Mansoor bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairman of the Dubai Ports and Borders Security Council. The three-day event runs from 9 – 11 December at the Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC).
During the opening tour, His Highness visited leading UAE exhibitors including Golden Extreme Group, Dynatrade, and Al Shamali Auto Parts. He also toured the German Pavilion, underscoring Dubai’s ambition to strengthen international trade ties under the Dubai Economic Agenda D33, and engaged with global market leaders such as Italian braking specialist Brembo.
Now in its twenty-second edition, Automechanika Dubai is hosting its largest showcase to date. More than 2,300 exhibitors from over 60 countries are participating across 20 halls – including 21 dedicated country pavilions – spanning more than 92,000 square metres of gross exhibition space, an 11% increase year-on-year. New participating countries include Albania, Barbados, Cyprus, Kazakhstan and Iraq, reinforcing Dubai’s position as a strategic bridge between markets in the Middle East, Africa, Asia and the CIS.
Government engagement has intensified this year, with the UAE Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure and Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority confirmed as Government Supporters. Eng. Mozza Al Nuaimi, Engineering Expert – Water, Electricity and Renewable Energy Sector at the Ministry, delivered an opening keynote at Innovation4Mobility on Energy efficiency and smart infrastructure: Enabling a sustainable mobility ecosystem in the UAE.
On Thursday, Maryam Al Bastaki, Project Manager, Industrial Partnerships and Investment Department, Ministry of Industry & Advanced Technology, will speak on Accelerating the UAE’s automotive industrial transformation as part of the new Region Focus – Made in the GCC. Her address will outline how the UAE is cultivating an advanced manufacturing ecosystem through localisation incentives, strategic partnerships and technology adoption under the Make it in the Emirates initiative.
Industry associations have further strengthened their participation this year. The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), the European Association of Automotive Suppliers (CLEPA) and the International Road Transport Union (IRU) have reaffirmed their involvement. Themba Khumalo, Principal Advisor to the Secretary General of AfCFTA, will examine Africa’s rising influence in the global automotive aftermarket during the AfriConnections programme on Thursday, designed to spotlight the continent’s fast-growing automotive and mobility landscape.
Automechanika Dubai features a robust three-day programme including Innovation4Mobility, which explores electrification, smart infrastructure, connected mobility and the circular economy. The Automechanika Academy, running on 9 and 10 December, convenes policymakers, OEMs, suppliers and analysts to discuss regulatory shifts, sustainability strategies, remanufacturing trends, tyre and battery innovation, AI-enabled diagnostics and future mobility pathways across the MEA region.
The exhibition floor has been curated to represent the full value chain, covering parts and components, electronics, tyres and batteries, lubricants and fuels, diagnostics and repair, car care, body and paint, accessories and customisation, digital mobility services and – for the first time – connectivity and autonomous driving.
Commenting on the opening, Tommy Le, Show Manager of Automechanika Dubai, said: “Automechanika Dubai continues to play a vital role in connecting the global aftermarket with the Middle East and Africa. The scale and calibre of this year’s event clearly reflect the industry’s accelerating pace of change, from electrification and AI integration to regional manufacturing and digitalisation. The show provides a unique platform for business, knowledge sharing, and collaboration to help industry players navigate transformation and seize new growth opportunities.”
New features for 2025 include CV Evolution, a focused showcase on the commercial vehicles segment covering fleet management, electrification and smart logistics; the LABX Conference dedicated to the lubricants, base oils and additives value chain; and Fleet FWD, a strategic forum that unifies key pillars of automotive logistics, fleet sustainability and digital transformation.
