CGT Security Services supported an established global aerospace manufacturer with integrated security services during their attendance at the 5-day World Defense Show in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, in February 2026. The operation coordinated secure transportation, close protection, aircraft and FBO movements, GSOC oversight and short-notice regional requirements for an 18-strong delegation comprising senior leadership, sales personnel, corporate and event security, pilots, and aircrew.
CGT has supported the manufacturer across the GCC for approximately five years, providing consistent security operations across major events, executive visits and other corporate requirements.
World Defense Show Riyadh and the Operational Environment
The World Defense Show is held biennially in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, bringing together governments, military leadership, and international defence and aerospace industry representatives across the air, land, sea, space, and security domains. The 2026 World Defense Show brought together 61 of the world’s top 100 defence companies, and the event returns in January 2028.
The event’s scale and high profile created significant demand for executive protection, secure transportation, experienced operational drivers, and disciplined operational coordination. For the client delegation, daily movements spanned hotels, the World Defense Show, FBO, and aircraft locations, business meetings, private engagements, as well as numerous evening events.
Riyadh’s rapid development, major construction programmes and increasing event traffic add to congestion and changing journey times. CGT therefore relied on experienced local drivers, current route knowledge, reconnaissance and close liaison with its established Riyadh transportation partner to maintain realistic movement planning and punctuality. The deployment also sat within a wider regional travel-risk-management context.
Although the deployment preceded the later escalation of regional conflict, geopolitical tensions across the Middle East were already elevated. Regional threat awareness and ongoing situational monitoring remained integral to CGT’s planning and support of the client’s corporate security function.
Scope of CGT Security Services Delivered
CGT was engaged directly by the client to provide end-to-end ground security and transportation support throughout the 10-day operation. The project required advance preparation and venue reconnaissance, along with coordinating ten vehicles, multiple hotels, approximately 15 commercial arrivals and 12 departures, daily movements to the World Defense Show, support for personnel connected with aircraft on static display, corporate and VIP meetings across Riyadh, and evening engagements and short-notice tasking in Jeddah and between Dubai and Riyadh. The operation was completed without a reported security or safety incident and without missed client movements.
1. Pre-Deployment Planning and Coordination
CGT received several weeks’ advance notice and conducted a series of operational calls with the client’s U.S.-based security team and event-security personnel. This enabled the team to establish the delegation structure, accommodation, arrival and departure patterns, venue requirements, leadership movements and anticipated business and social programmes.
CGT’s ISO 9001 quality management system and its application of ISO 31030:2021 travel risk management guidance supported the planning process. Together, these provide a structured framework for duty of care, risk identification, planning, communications, supplier management, escalation, monitoring and post-project review, helping ensure that security and transportation delivery is integrated into the client’s wider travel-risk-management requirements rather than treated as a standalone logistics function.
The first days of the deployment were used for advance work and reconnaissance, including venue familiarisation, vehicle and personnel passes, transport planning, driver briefings and support to the client’s event set-up. The team then maintained a daily briefing process throughout the project so the security team could coordinate movements to the venue, business meetings, private residences, restaurants, and evening engagements.
2. Executive Protection and Secure Transportation in Riyadh
The CGT Security Services team provided journey management and movement support for meetings, private residences, restaurants, and evening engagements. A ten-vehicle fleet was deployed and tailored to the differing requirements of the 18-strong delegation, with a programme comprising 15 commercial arrival transfers and around 12 departure transfers, in addition to daily transportation of pilots and crew between accommodation, FBO, and aircraft locations and the World Defense Show, all within Riyadh.
The luxury executive fleet included two executive saloons from the Mercedes-Benz S-Class and BMW 7 Series ranges, two Mercedes-Benz V-Class MPVs and six full-size SUVs, including GMC Yukon and Chevrolet Tahoe-type vehicles. Security support included close protection for senior personnel and other designated delegation members, as well as an experienced expatriate security and transportation coordinator with a former military background.
3. GSOC, Technology and Client Visibility
CGT integrated its Dubai-based 24/7 Global Security Operations Centre into the project. Drivers, CPOs, and the security coordinator used CGT’s smartphone tracking capability to monitor vehicle and personnel movements throughout the deployment. Day-to-day communications were predominantly managed through structured WhatsApp groups, enabling rapid information-sharing between drivers, event personnel, client security representatives, leadership support personnel, and the CGT Security Services team.
An online tracking link provided to the client’s security team allowed authorised personnel in Saudi Arabia or the United States to view relevant movements through a smartphone, tablet or other connected device, with an integrated SOS escalation capability linked to the GSOC and duty management structure. This created an additional layer of operational visibility across a complex multi-vehicle programme. Daily accountability check-ins for drivers and security personnel were complemented by an end-of-day stand-down report.
4. Managing Short-Notice Requirements Across Saudi Arabia and the GCC
While the principal programme was well structured and remained largely stable, a high-level aerospace and defence event inevitably generated ad hoc senior-leadership requirements. CGT’s operating model allowed these changes to be absorbed without disrupting the wider delegation programme. During the event, senior client personnel were required to travel from Riyadh to Jeddah at short notice. CGT promptly arranged the necessary transportation support at both ends, enabling the client to attend important meetings while maintaining continuity across its Riyadh, Jeddah, and ongoing World Defense Show commitments.
Separately, CGT was also requested to provide a close protection operative to travel from Dubai to Riyadh carrying important documentation required for a significant client meeting.
The task was mobilised and delivered within the required timeframe, demonstrating the value of maintaining a regional capability rather than treating the project solely as a Riyadh transportation assignment.
CGT Security Services’ Regional Expertise
With more than 25 years of operational experience in Dubai and across the GCC, CGT understands that effective protective security in the region depends on more than operational capability alone. Anticipating local protocols, cultural expectations, and the requirements surrounding senior and VIP movements enables the team to plan ahead, adapt appropriately and ensure security measures integrate discreetly with the environment in which the client is operating.
Protective Security Integration and VIP Protocol in Saudi Arabia
Senior client personnel often attend private engagements while attending business events in Saudi Arabia. These may involve high-level Saudi government officials, and where applicable, members of the Saudi Royal Family. These engagements operate under strict host-nation protocol and security arrangements. With decades of experience operating across the GCC, CGT is familiar with the cultural and practical requirements of liaising with Saudi VIP protocol teams and, when necessary, adapting its protective security posture accordingly.
At such engagements, the Saudi host’s protocol and security structure takes precedence. CGT and client security personnel may remain at the outer security layer while authorised host personnel escort the client VIP through inner cordons. CGT manages this transition through coordinated arrival and vehicle positioning, liaison with the protocol team, and a clear handover of responsibility, remaining ready to resume protective support on the client’s departure.
The close protection personnel were selected from experienced former UK military and law-enforcement backgrounds who had previously worked with CGT. A senior CGT operations/security manager with extensive GCC and protective-security experience oversaw project coordination in Riyadh.
The Outcome
The approximately 10-day deployment was completed successfully, with no reported security or safety incidents, and no missed arrival or departure movements. The client maintained its planned business programme throughout the World Defense Show, and CGT received highly positive feedback.
Particular recognition was given to the professionalism of the security personnel and to the drivers’ English-language capability, courtesy, driving standards, flexibility and overall service delivery. CGT’s ability to respond to short-notice requirements in Jeddah and from Dubai further reinforced the client’s confidence in the regional support model.
The project formed part of a relationship extending approximately five years and built upon previous support to the client at major GCC events and executive visits. The successful World Defense Show deployment further strengthened the basis for continuing repeat business.
CGT Demonstrated Capabilities
- Manage a large and diverse corporate delegation during a major international defence and aerospace event.
- Integrate secure transportation, close protection, operational coordination and 24/7 GSOC support.
- Deliver consistent service through trained and managed third-party transportation partners.
- Support senior corporate leadership, pilots, aircrew, sales teams, security personnel and event-management teams within one coordinated operating structure.
- Ensure client visibility through technology-enabled tracking and structured communications.
- Respond rapidly to ad hoc requirements elsewhere in Saudi Arabia and from the UAE.
- Provide a scalable regional service model across the GCC and beyond.
CGT also supports international organisations and senior leadership at other major events in Riyadh, including executive protection and secure transportation operations during the Future Investment Initiative.
CGT’s operating framework combines its ISO 9001 quality management system with structured project controls, technology integration and management of third-party providers. The principles of ISO 31030:2021 Travel Risk Management – Guidance for Organisations further support its approach to planning, duty of care, operational delivery, monitoring, and continual improvement for clients travelling into and operating across the GCC.
Planning Security Support for World Defense Show 2028?
World Defense Show returns to Riyadh from 16–20 January 2028. Organisations planning senior leadership or delegation attendance, aircraft participation, or wider corporate activity can engage CGT in advance to coordinate executive protection, secure transportation, and broader security requirements in Riyadh and across the GCC.
Discuss your World Defense Show 2028 security requirements in confidence.
