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UAE to promote defence credentials at Idex 2015

1,100 companies will exhibit latest products across five days

Mohammed Ahmed Al Bawardi Falasi , Undersecretary of the Ministry of Defence; Lt General Hamad Mohammed Thani Al Rumaithi, Chief of Staff of the UAE Armed Forces; Major General Pilot Abdullah Al Hashimi, Executive Director of Strategic Analysis at the Ministry of Defence; and Major General Pilot Mohammed Rashid Al Ali, Director of Joint Operations Centre, General Command of the Armed Forces; during an International defence conference on the sidelines of Idex in Abu Dhabi on Saturday. — Photos By Nezar Balout/ Khaleej Times

Dubai — Over 1,200 defence companies from 50 countries are taking part in the International Defence Exhibition and Conference (Idex) 2015, opening in the capital on Sunday (today).

The international defence companies will display their latest military hardware and technologies.

The show, which first took place 22 years ago, has become one of the biggest defence shows in terms of the number of exhibitors and number of visitors. It has grown 200 per cent from hosting 350 exhibitors in 1993 to 1,200 companies inits 12th edition today.

The five-day show will continue until Thursday. It is expected to attract over 80,000 visitors from across the world.

A number of defence ministers, military delegations and other government officials have been invited to attend the event at Adnec Abu Dhabi.

The success of Idex on the world stage helps reinforce the UAE’s perception as a global defence hub.

Idex is also a powerful testimony of the UAE’s superior military capabilities and innovations in the defence manufacturing and services sector.

The event will spread across more than 133,000 square metres that contain 42 suites. This year, six new countries are participating for the first time in the proceedings due to the continued investment and improvements in on-site facilities. The new countries participating are; the Republic of Bosnia, Latvia, New Zealand, Slovenia, Azerbaijan and Japan.

William S. Cohen, chairman and CEO, The Cohen Group, and former US Secretary of Defence, speaking at the International Defence Conference on the sidelines of Idex in Abu Dhabi on Saturday.

The exhibitor line-up for Idex 2015 reflects how the exhibition is serving as a window for major global defence companies to showcase their latest products and services to the world.

Idex has distinguished itself from other international events by constantly bringing new additions to the event.

Idex 2015 includes the first edition of the Unmanned Systems Exhibition (Umex). Umex 2015 will provide a professional platform for security and defence manufacturers to promote the latest developments and benefits of unmanned systems, according to the organisers of the show.

This first edition of Umex will provide an opportunity for several unmanned systems companies to showcase and promote their products and innovations in the field of defence, establish business relationships with exhibition visitors, and explain all the advantages of unmanned systems.

— haseeb@khaleejtimes.com