Abu Dhabi is set to host a record-breaking IDEX edition when the show’s 10th anniversary takes place 20–24 February 2011 at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre under the patronage of HH Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE.  

Addressing the official pre-event press conference, HE Major General Obaid Al Ketbi, Head of Committees & Spokesman for IDEX 2011 said:  “For the first time since IDEX’s inception in 1993, exhibitor numbers have gone past the 1000-mark recording 18.2% growth over IDEX in 2009, to reach 1060 exhibitors”.

“Total event space (gross sqm) has grown 14.8% to 124,000sqm (108,000sqm in 2009), with IDEX exhibitors this year, representing 53 countries (50 in 2009), including 32 National Pavilions (same as 2009). Net event space (net sqm) has increased 14.58% to 43,219sqm (37,719sqm in 2009)”.

IDEX (International Defence Exhibition & Conference) is organised by ADNEC (Abu Dhabi National Exhibitions Company) in association with the UAE Armed Forces. Tawazun Holding is the Headline Sponsor for the event.

“Despite being a long-established show, at every IDEX we strive for something new: new companies, new countries, new facilities and innovations and this time, is no different,” Major General Ketbi said

Of the 1060 exhibitors this year, 49 exhibiting companies will be located within the dedicated First Time Exhibitor Zone (FTEZ) introduced at this edition.

Also, a new feature at this edition is NAVDEX - a dedicated naval defence exhibition that’s being held in parallel, at the ADNEC Marina and connected via a pedestrian bridge to the main exhibition venue. Organised by Clarion Events on behalf of ADNEC in association with the UAE Armed Forces GHQ, NAVDEX occupies 16,000sqm (gross), with 81 exhibiting companies, as well as 4 visiting navy ships from the UAE, the UK, Italy and France. NAVDEX is set to enter the record-books as the largest launch event in the UAE in 2011, as well as ensuring the naval component is a crucial and increasingly important element at all future IDEX editions.

“ADNEC is firmly committed to the success of IDEX and will continue to make ongoing improvements to our facilities in order to drive home the show’s pre-eminent status as one of the premier showcases for systems, equipment and technology for the tri-service defence sector. I am convinced IDEX 2011 will once again prove ADNEC’s abilities in delivering a world-class event at a world-class venue,” said Al Dhaheri.  

The UAE will have a significant presence at IDEX 2011 with 169 exhibitors occupying an area of 12,260sqm. The largest international country pavilion is Germany (3,595sqm) followed by USA (3,411sqm), Turkey (2,179sqm) and Italy (1,782 sqm).

The largest international exhibitor is Germany's Rheinmetall AG, occupying 1,274sqm space whereas the largest UAE exhibitor will be Mubadala Development Company and its subsidiaries, with a 1,870sqm stand. Tawazun Holding will occupy a total of 1,662sqm of combined indoor and outdoor space and is also looking to capitalise on the opportunity of being the Headline Sponsor, an honour that the company also held at the last IDEX.

The official conference for IDEX, the Gulf Defence Conference (GDC), will be held on Saturday 19th February at the Armed Forces Officers' Club. The GDC, organised by INEGMA (Institute for Near East & Gulf Military Analysis) on behalf of ADNEC, is expected to host more than to 400 delegates and 9 international speakers focusing particularly on the emerging threats and novel technologies for GCC defence and security. This 2011 edition of the Gulf Defence Conference will be essential attendance for anyone seeking to understand the fast changing defence and security environment in which they are working, whether from government, industry, the military or academia.

More than 50,000 visitors including heads of state, high-ranking military and defence procurement officials, as well as business visitors are expected to attend IDEX 2011.

IDEX 2011 will open its doors to an audience of VIPs, Media and 150 official delegations on Sunday 20th February with a grand opening ceremony.