The International Defence Exhibition and Conference (IDEX) and the Naval Defence Exhibition (NAVDEX) are two of the world’s largest and most important defence shows, held every two years in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. The 16th International Defence Exhibition and Conference (IDEX) and the 7th Naval Defence and Maritime Security Exhibition (NAVDEX) commenced today in Abu Dhabi with over 1,350 firms in attendance.
Every two years, IDEX is an international trade fair for military and defence goods. The event displays the most recent defence systems, military technology, and equipment, as well as land, air, and marine defence systems. It draws a diverse variety of defence industry exhibitors and visitors, including government officials, military personnel, and defence corporations. NAVDEX, on the other hand, is a dedicated naval defence and maritime security exhibition held in conjunction with IDEX. NAVDEX serves as a showcase for the newest products and services from top naval defence firms and maritime security professionals.
The exhibitions give a venue for specialists in the defence industry to demonstrate their latest goods, services, and technology to an international audience. The five-day events are being conducted at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC) in collaboration with the Ministry of Defence and are being patronised by President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
This year’s edition, which coincides with IDEX’s 30th anniversary, is expected to be the largest in the event’s history, gathering participants from all over the world to demonstrate the most recent innovations in the international defence sector. As previously stated, the five-day event, one of the world’s most important defence exhibits and the largest in the region, coincides with the 30th anniversary of the event’s inception.
Thousands of exhibitors and tourists from all over the world are anticipated to attend IDEX and NAVDEX 2023. The expo will include live demonstrations of military equipment, conferences, and networking opportunities for experts in the defence industry.
The current iteration has 65 countries participating, a 10% increase over the previous session and a 200% increase over the first event in 1993. Also, the number of country pavilions has expanded to 41, representing a 17% increase over the previous session. A view of Israel pavilion with guests during the IDEX and NAVDEX exhibitions is seen above.
Visitors will see a weapons platform carrying “Desert Sting 16” GPS and laser-guided smart micro munitions manufactured by Halcon Systems at the EDGE pavilion during the International Defence Exhibition (IDEX) at the Abu Dhabi International Exhibition Centre on February 20, 2023, according to insiders. (AFP photo by Ryan LIM)
The events offer a unique chance for stakeholders in the defence industry to meet, network, and explore future partnerships and collaborations. In addition, they host a variety of conferences, seminars, and workshops that cover crucial themes and developments in the defence and naval industries. Aside from the shows, Abu Dhabi holds a number of additional events connected to the defence, security, and aerospace industries during this time, including the Global Aerospace Summit and the Unmanned Systems Expo and Conference. These events help to promote Abu Dhabi as a regional and global centre for the defence and aerospace sectors.
