A TORRENTIAL downpour did not stop tens of thousands of visitors from flocking to the 10th Drone World Congress, the 11th Shenzhen International UAV Expo, and the 2026 International Low-Altitude Economy & UAS Expo, which opened at the Shenzhen Convention and Exhibition Center in Futian District on Thursday.

Occupying nine halls, the event, which runs through Saturday, features more than 1,200 exhibitors from 17 countries and regions showcasing over 10,000 drones and supporting products for the low‑altitude economy, according to the organizers.

Recognized as a global bellwether for the low‑altitude economy, the drone expo now covers the entire industrial chain — from AI and low‑altitude infrastructure to security and counter‑drone systems, communication navigation, new materials, and new energy.

The expo also featured a parade of cutting-edge products, including eVTOL (electric vertical take‑off and landing) passenger aircraft, heavy‑lift unmanned helicopters, hard‑kill anti‑drone defense systems, and innovative 3D drone defense networks.

On the opening day, the venue was packed with buyers and visitors from around the world, with the number of foreign attendees noticeably higher than last year. International buyers were seen engaging in deep discussions with exhibitors at many booths while many companies had prepared English brochures and deployed multilingual staff to facilitate communication.

A visitor from Dubai, who own a remote‑control model shop in his home country, said that he came specifically to explore drone projects and expand his business.

“This is my first time at this expo, but we come to China almost every two months — many companies in Dubai have business here,” he said. (SD News)