Emirati companies account for 68% of the armed forces deals

Under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the State “may God protect him”, the activities of the International Defense Exhibition “IDEX” and the Defense and Maritime Security Exhibition “Navx” 2025 concluded, which were resided from 17 to February 21 at the Emnik Abu Dhabi Center, The two exhibitions achieved records in the volumes of posts and deals over the five days of the two exhibitions, while the number of visitors increased by more than the 55.5% to reach 206,073 visitors from all over the world.

The two exhibitions, which are organized by the ADNEC Group in cooperation with the Ministry of Defense and the Balance Council; With a wide international praise by the participants and visitors, in addition to the leading leaders, decision makers, experts and specialists in the defense industries sector from all over the world, and 70% has been booked in advance of the areas of offers for the next session for the exhibitions in 2027, which will be held from 25 to 29 January 2027.

The Balance Council, the independent government agency responsible for the Department of Operations, Procurement and Contracts of the Ministry of Defense and the security services in the UAE, announced the signing of 55 new transactions with a value of about 25.15 billion dirhams, in the five days of the exhibition, with a rate of 10% compared to the previous session, The agreements, signed with local and international defense companies, highlight the UAE’s commitment to strengthening Its defense capabilities and global industrial partnerships.

Prestigious

The Chairman of the Organizing Committee of the IDEX and Nafdex Exhibitions, Major General Pilse Faris Khalaf Al Mazrouei, said that the demand for the IDEX and Nafdex exhibitions this year reflects the prestigious position that the UAE has at the regional and international levels, and the advanced level reached by the national defense industries sector, which is managed with minds And the arms of the people of this country, and establishes the position of the capital Abu Dhabi as a destination for minds and decision makers from all Throughout the world, a center for innovation and creativity in these vital sectors.

For his part, Vice -Chairman of the Supreme Committee Organizing the Exhibitions, Major General Mubarak Saeed Gavan Al -Jabri, said: The national companies have achieved remarkable success in this year’s version of the IDEX and Nafdex exhibitions, as they reviewed the development of their industries and products, and achieved distinguished results in raising the level of local technology by transferring knowledge, Rather, it has become an influential contributor to many major sectors in the country and mainly in the aviation sectors and marine systems. And advanced technologies (such as artificial intelligence, cyber security) and space.

He pointed out that the current session of the exhibitions witnessed a remarkable increase in the number of partnerships and the size of the deals announced in this global demonstration, as national companies acquired 68% of the total deals signed by the Balance Council, while 32% were allocated to international companies, what It confirms the extent of technological growth and innovation achieved by national companies.

And that the success story of the exhibitions exceeds the declared numbers of visitors and participants, to highlight the excellence and superiority of the UAE in the defense industries sector and the qualitative leaps that the sector has witnessed over the past three decades, and the two exhibitions show the state’s continuous endeavor to attract the latest technologies of the fourth industrial revolution and employ it in the service of humanity and maintain security and peace International.

For his part, the managing director and CEO of the “ADNEC” group, Hamid Matar Al -Dhaheri, said: The “IDEX” and “Navx” exhibitions are an essential pillar in the efforts of the ADNEC Group to support national economic diversity. And that is by providing opportunities that contribute to the development of the various industrial sectors, and to organize and host the major events that attracted visitors from all over the world. Which reached 206,073 visitors, a growth rate exceeding 55.5% compared to the past session.

High percentage of international visitors

The current session recorded the increase in the percentage of international visitors to reach 57% of the total number of visitors from 167 countries, while the percentage of local visitors reached 43%, and the percentage of visitors from males reached 85%, while the percentage of visitors from 15% reached, and the UAE was in the ranking The first in terms of the number of visitors followed by: China, Turkey, America, India, France, Russia, South Korea, the United Kingdom, Saudi Arabia, Germany and then Ukraine.

The exhibitions and the accompanying conference witnessed the participation of more than 6,000 university students in various specialties from a large number of higher education institutions and universities in the country, and who constitute 3% of the total visitors to the exhibition, who got acquainted with the most prominent new technologies and equipment in the defense industries sector, in addition to To the discussion workshops that attracted a constellation of decision makers and experts from all over the world.

The participants reviewed a wide range of technologies and advanced programs that were presented in the innovation pavilion of startups and for five days, and they got acquainted with the mechanisms, programs and activities provided by a wide range of national institutions in the public and private sectors that provide support for research and development programs, which would contribute to In developing these companies, enhancing their competitiveness and opening new markets for them at the regional and international levels.

International Defense Conference

The International Defense Conference in this year attracted more than 1,800 participants with a growth rate exceeding 25% compared to the previous session, and the conference was attended by 55 heads of a military delegation, 40 executive heads of defense companies, 48 ​​ambassadors and members of the diplomatic corps, and 65 military supplies, in addition For a number of representatives of military colleges, government, private and international universities.

In its three sessions, the conference discussed the global turmoil, defense preparations and attempts to alleviate the threats facing the necessary supply chains, misleading information, influence operations and methods of using information as a weapon in contemporary conflicts, in addition to a session on the space world, threats and opportunities arising from that, with the participation of 12 speakers, including leaders, Ministers, senior officials in the defense sector from different countries of the world.

IDEX and Wafdix exhibition

This session of the International Defense Exhibition “IDEX” and the Defense and Maritime Security Exhibition “Navx” witnessed many advantages and initiatives held for the first time, as IDEX provided a unique platform to display the latest developments in 17 vital sectors of the defensive products, including vehicles and land and air systems , Unmanned systems, which represent leading techniques in the field of mobility and self -processes. Navigation, radar, leadership and control systems also emerged technological capabilities that constitute modern defense strategies, while weapons, systems and personal equipment focused on innovations in combat readiness and soldiers’ protection.
In addition, IDEX expanded to include specialized fields such as electronic warfare systems, internal/national security equipment, medical equipment and survival equipment, and dealing with advanced needs of global defense and security. The inclusion of the humanitarian aid sectors and organizations/associations/institutions highlighted the importance of cooperation and support in crisis management.

In 2025, the eighth edition of the activities of the Defense and Maritime Security Exhibition “Navx”, 2025, reviewed an exceptional set of marine fleets of eight countries, including the UAE, the Kingdom of Bahrain, the Sultanate of Oman, the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, the Greek Republic, the Republic of South Korea, and the Republic of India. In Marina Denik; In addition to the port of Zayed, which attracted many pieces and marine ships participating in the exhibition.

Exhibition activities

The exhibitions witnessed the organization of a number of events and dialogues, “IDEX and Nafdex dialogues” that collected policy makers, thought pioneers, influencers and experts in foresight of the future, and discussed the latest technologies and innovations that reshape the future of the sector, in addition to platforms dedicated to startups, “Nicks Jin” platform for international startups “more” more ” From 100 emerging companies from different countries of the world, and “Think Tank” It is a series of educational sessions run by strategic partners, with the aim of developing visions and strategies that positively affect the basic sector..

IDEX also launched the first global gathering (CBRNE Hub) It includes leaders, experts, decision makers and leading companies in the field of defense against risks “CBRNE” (Chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, and explosives), with the participation of 38 companies from 13 countries. In addition to the innovation course – IDEX, and the future IDEX laboratories.