The upcoming editions of the International Defence Exhibition, IDEX, and Naval Defence, NAVDEX, held under the patronage of President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan will run from 17th to 21st February at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre.
Increasing in growth year-on-year, IDEX 2019 is set to celebrate its silver jubilee with the largest edition ever since the expo’s inception in 1993. Spanning the last 25 years, IDEX has become one of the largest specialized defense exhibitions regionally and globally.
The International Defence Conference, IDC 2019, will serve as a precursor to IDEX/NAVDEX from 14-16 February at the Emirates Palace Hotel in Abu Dhabi. Set to convene 1,200 experts and specialists from all over the world, the conference will discuss topics related to technology, science as well as the Fourth Industrial Revolution, 4IR, with relevance to bolstering peace and security in the world.
Staff Major General Pilot Faris Khalaf Al Mazrouei, Chairman of the Higher Organizing Committee of IDEX and NAVDEX 2019, Major General Staff Pilot Ishaq Saleh Al Balushi, Deputy Chairman of the Higher Organizing Committee, and Humaid Matar Al Dhaheri, Group CEO of the Abu Dhabi National Exhibitions Company, ADNEC, made the announcement at a press conference held at the Abu Dhabi Exhibition Centre earlier this week.
“Patronized by key decision-makers, experts and specialists in the defense industries sector, IDEX in its 25-year anniversary is set to become one of the largest specialized exhibitions globally. To its credit, in a short period of time, NAVDEX has also proved its unique position among the world's leading exhibitions in the maritime defense industry,” Al Mazrouei, said
“Ahead of the two highly anticipated events, the International Defence Conference will take centre stage, bringing together prominent experts and military leaders to discuss important security and defense issues pertaining to the region and the world,” Al Mazrouei added.
Al Mazrouei noted that more than 170 local companies from the defense and its supporting sectors will participate in the 2019 edition of the exhibitions.
“The three leading events, IDEX, NAVDEX and IDC, are being organized at a time when complex international and geopolitical conditions and changes are being imposed by 4IR, and the world is witnessing tremendous technological development. These dynamic shifts are prompting decision makers to revise traditional defense strategies and develop a new generation of security strategies,” Al Balushi, said,
The total area dedicated to IDEX and NAVDEX will increase by 26% to 168,000 square meters compared to 133,000 square meters in 2017. The number of exhibitors for IDEX and NAVDEX will increase by 6% to 1,310 compared to the 1,235 companies in the previous edition. International companies will account for 85% of the total number of companies, while the number of local enterprises exhibiting will reach 170, representing 15% of the exhibitors.
The number of participating countries will also increase by 9% or 62 countries compared with 57 in 2017. This edition will host 33 national pavilions or 18% increase as compared to 28 in the previous edition.
The exhibiting space dedicated to NAVDEX 2019 will increase by 52% to 45,000 square meters, compared with 30,000 square meters in 2017. The number of exhibitors will increase to 113 or 14%, as against 99 in the previous year. The number of participating military units is expected to increase by 66% to 20 units from 15 countries.
