International Defense Exhibition & Conference (IDEX 2011) achieves success, high visibility

The United Arab Emirates (U.A.E.) held the 10^th edition of its International Defense Exhibition & Conference (IDEX 2011) from Sunday, February 20^th to Thursday, February 24^th at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Center (ADNEC). The conference attracted defense professionals, military authorities, and government officials from countries all over the world. Many companies from the United States, a key strategic and defense partner of the U.A.E., attended the conference and procured noteworthy deals and partnership agreements.

His Highness General Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, crown prince of Abu Dhabi and deputy supreme commander of the U.A.E. Armed Forces, attended every day of the conference and spoke with U.S. companies and government officials about the strength of the U.S.-U.A.E. defense relationship and about the newest technology available on the market.

Additionally, Chief of Staff of the U.A.E. armed forces Lt. General Hamad Mohammed Thani Al Rumaithi met with Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff of United States Admiral Mike Mullen on the sidelines of IDEX 2011 to discuss the successes and opportunities of the U.S.-U.A.E. defense relationship; emphasizing the importance of the bilateral military coordination to the security of the Gulf region and the broader Middle East.

The U.S.-U.A.E. Business Council held a reception and dinner on the margins of IDEX featuring keynote remarks from Waleed Al Mokarrab Al Muhairi, Chief Operations Officer of Mubadala Development Company and Co-Chairman of the U.S.-U.A.E. Business Council. In his remarks, Mr. Muhairi underscored the importance of commercial defense partnerships between American and Emirati companies and the growing capacity of local U.A.E. defense firms.

IDEX 2011, the U.A.E.’s most successful IDEX to date, boasted deals worth just under $4 billion and featured 1,060 exhibitors from around the globe. According to the press, Emirati defense companies procured over $1 billion in contracts over the four days of IDEX 2011; showing the rapid growth of the U.A.E.’s commercial defense sector and the country’s credibility on the global stage in the defense and aerospace community.

The conference attracted wide press coverage in local, regional, and international markets. Below, you will find links to news stories about the overall success and magnitude of IDEX, the significant deals made during the conference between U.S. and U.A.E. companies, and the emergence of Emirati defense companies as “big winners”.

IDEX Press Coverage- February 20-25, 2011

Emirates News Agency-WAM:

Chief of Staff of the UAE armed forces meets US Defence Chief Official

IDEX, NAVDEX proof of UAE’s visionary leadership : US Commander

Mohammed Bin Zayed visits NAVDEX

UAE offers new defence vehicles, satellite technology and advanced geospatial mapping at IDEX 2011

Over AED 3.5 bn defence contracts sealed by UAE on fourth day of IDEX

IDEX concludes on optimistic note

Special Operations Command Black Hawk programme will see ADAT engineers train in the US and revamp aircraft at Al Ain

Tawazun Holding to acquire 26% of International Golden Group

ADASI and iRobot Corporation Announce Cooperative Agreement

Reuters: