2,400 Global Brands Across All Key Product Segments [Video]

Interview with Tommy Le, Show Manager of Automechanika Dubai, about what to expect from the upcoming 2025 edition of the fair, taking place on 9-11 December.

Automechanika Dubai is the largest trade fair for the automotive aftermarket in the region. What major changes and new features can we expect in the 2025 edition?

In 2025 we are scaling Automechanika Dubai both in both size and in depth and expect to receive more than 2,400 global brands across all key product segments. Making this our most international and comprehensive edition to date.

On the content side, we are introducing several new, very targeted platforms. CV Evolution, Fleet FWD and the LABX Conference have been added as dedicated streams for commercial vehicles, fleet operators and the lubricants and additives community. Whilst the Modern Workshop returns with an upgraded focus on EV readiness, diagnostics and future talent.

At the same time, we’re strengthening AfriConnections and “Made in GCC” as regional focus platforms, and expanding our awards and training programmes so that the show is not only the largest marketplace in MEA, but a genuine three-day accelerator for knowledge, partnerships and deal-making.

The show programme includes initiatives such as Innovation4Mobility, Fleet FWD, LABX Conference, and Modern Workshop. Which of these do you consider the most groundbreaking?

Each serves a different part of the value chain, Innovation4Mobility is where we bring together policy makers, OEMs, technology providers and the aftermarket to discuss smart mobility, electrification and digital platforms in one strategic forum.

Fleet FWD is equally important for our region as it gives fleet owners, logistics players and telematics providers a dedicated platform to address efficiency, safety and sustainability in real-world operations and critical topics such as commercial fleets electrify and digitise. CV Evolution and LABX then go deeper, offering highly technical content for commercial vehicle and lubricant specialists, while the Modern Workshop translates all of this into practical training for garages and service centres.

The aftermarket in the GCC region is projected to reach USD 13 billion by 2030. What does this growth potential mean for the organisers and the future of the event?

Independent research already shows GCC light-vehicle aftermarket revenues at around USD 9.7 billion in 2022, with a CAGR of about 4.4% and a forecast of USD 12 billion by 2027. So projections in the low-to-mid teens by 2030 are entirely realistic.

for us as organisers, that means Automechanika Dubai has a clear responsibility: to be the place where this growth is structured, professionalised and channelled. It pushes us to keep refining our product sections, invest in data-driven matchmaking, and develop specialist platforms – whether for fleets, EVs, lubricants or African and GCC trade – so that the show evolves in lockstep with market expansion.

It also confirms that our advisory-board-driven approach is the right one as it ensures the exhibition reflects real demand from distributors, workshops, fleets and manufacturers, not just “nice to have” conference topics.

How does Automechanika Dubai 2025 foster networking and partnership development among companies from the MENA region, Africa, and Europe?

Automechanika Dubai has always acted as a central trading link for markets that are hard to reach, connecting the Middle East, Africa, Asia key CIS countries and Europe sits right at the heart of that trade corridor.

In 2025, we are doubling down on curated networking. AfriConnections is a good example as it’s designed specifically to connect African buyers with global suppliers through focused presentations and high-level B2B sessions. Likewise, “Made in GCC” highlights regional manufacturers and distributors looking for international partners, creating a natural bridge with European and Asian exhibitors.

On top of these content platforms, we offer digital tools such as the exhibitor search, the Automechanika Dubai app and the Premium Club, which pre-qualifies buyers and facilitates targeted meetings. Together, these ensure that a visitor from Warsaw, Riyadh or Lagos is not just walking stands, but following a structured, productive agenda of meetings and sessions.

This year’s edition highlights sustainability, digital technologies, and fleet innovations. Do you believe these trends define the future direction of the automotive industry?

Absolutely. Globally, the aftermarket’s growth between now and 2030 is being driven by exactly these forces: connected and smart technologies, e-commerce, electrification, and the rise of CASE and ADAS-equipped vehicles.

In our region, the same trends are visible in the rapid growth of the MEA aftermarket which is valued at over USD 55 billion in 2023 with steady growth expected through to 2030 and in strong investment into EV charging, green mobility and digital fleet management. By putting sustainability, digitalisation and fleets at the centre of Automechanika Dubai 2025, we’re not following a fashion but building the platforms that the industry will rely on for the next decade, from EV-ready workshops to data-driven distribution and smart logistics.

Finally, what message would you like to share with companies planning to participate in December’s edition? Why will 2025 be such a pivotal year for the automotive market in Dubai?

My message is simple: If the Middle East, Africa or wider emerging markets are important to your strategy, you cannot afford to sit out 2025. The MEA aftermarket is expanding in the tens of billions of dollars, vehicle fleets are becoming more electrified and connected, and Dubai’s role as a re-export and logistics hub is strengthening every year.

Automechanika Dubai 2025 brings all of this together in one place – 9–11 December at Dubai World Trade Centre with more brands, content and increased structured networking than ever before. For companies that want to secure distribution, build service networks, launch new technologies or understand regulatory and market shifts, this edition is a genuine inflection point: it’s where you can position yourself for the next cycle of growth, rather than reacting to it later.