The Abu Dhabi National Exhibitions Company, ADNEC, has announced that final preparations for the 4th edition of the Unmanned Systems Exhibition, UMEX 2020, and Simulation and Training Exhibition, SimTEX 2020, have been completed.

Held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, UMEX and SimTEX 2020 will take place in Abu Dhabi on 23-25 February.

Organized by ADNEC in cooperation with the UAE Ministry of Defense and the Supreme Command of the UAE Armed Forces, the 4th edition of both exhibitions is the largest in their history, since their inception in 2015.

Hosting several leading local, regional and international specialized organizations and global attendees, including government delegations, civil entities and other specialized agencies, the current edition will highlight the latest innovations and technologies in the fields of unmanned systems and simulation and training, as well as areas of artificial intelligence, robotics and the global future trends.

UMEX and SIMTEX 2020 are ideally positioned to highlight the functional and practical aspects of using unmanned systems in our lives today, which can be summarized in the combination of greater flexibility, lower capital, and lower operational costs.

The world-renowned event, with a leading regional position as one of the key platforms for unmanned systems and simulation and training, is expected to attract a record turnout of both exhibitors and visitors. The events of both exhibitions will host a plethora of specialized activities and conferences in the presence of a select group of industry experts.

Major General Staff Pilot Ali Mohammed Musleh Al Ahbabi said: “The current UMEX and SimTEX edition will be distinct by all means, especially that it will be held for the first time in parallel to the Mohamed Bin Zayed International Robotics Challenge, MBZIRC, organized by Khalifa University, and the series of artificial intelligence and robotic competitions, which will be run by the Ministry of Education.’

“The special conference accompanying UMEX and SimTEX, to be held on 22nd February under the theme ‘Manned-Unmanned Teaming in the Age of Smart Systems’ is expected to see a remarkable turnout by participants, experts and specialist from all over the world,” he continued.

Sixty-three UAE-based companies are taking part in the event, the ADNEC Group CEO said, noting that they constitute 40% of the total number of exhibitors. “UMEX and SimTEX 2020 are expected to attract more than 18,000 visitors from all over the world, with an increase of more than 50% from the previous edition,” he added.

The exhibitions’ agenda is filled with accompanying events, where the UMEX and SimTEX 2020 Conference will be held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, at Abu Dhabi National Exhibitions Centre, on February 22nd, one day before launching the main event.

Staff Brigadier Engineer Khalifa Ali Al Kaabi, said: “The conference, held under the theme ‘Manned-Unmanned Teaming in the Age of Smart Systems’, will attract leading experts, academic researchers and global thought leaders to exchange views and explore the challenges and opportunities that emerged as a result of artificial intelligence and the fourth industrial revolution.”

Al Kaabi said that the conference agenda consists of four keynote sessions and four panel discussions that host a group of 21 national and international speakers from 11 countries. Some 600 attendees are expected to participate, representing a 100% increase from the previous edition, he continued, adding that the four main conference agenda themes were: Human Dimension, Missions and Operations, Industry and Market, and Border Security.

In parallel to the UMEX and SimTEX exhibitions, the Mohamed bin Zayed International Robotics Challenge, MBZIRC, organized by Khalifa University, will take place between 23rd and 25th February. MBZIRC was launched in 2015 as a major international robotics competition that will be held every two years, with total of prizes of US$5 million.