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IDEX 2023

24/02/202305/06/2023 Paolo Valpolini Abu Dhabi, IDEX, UAE

The 2023 edition of IDEX (International Defence Exhibition and conference) marks the 30^th anniversary of the Abu Dhabi event, which since its inception became a key meeting point for defence industries in the Middle East region.

Sand was the dominating element of the first editions, but since IDEX has continuously transformed itself in many ways, adding its naval counterpart, NAVDEX having started in 2011, moving into a newly built exhibition premises, ADNEC, while in the mean time the UAE defence industry followed becoming today a key player in the defence world.

Looking at the future, this year the organisers set up for the first time a section dedicated to start ups, IDEX Next Gen hosting more than 82 start ups from 25 nations.

According to data provided by organisers 2023 is a new record edition, with 1,350 exhibiting companies from 65 countries, a bigger exhibition area, and 30 official delegations expected to visit IDEX and NAVDEX.

While in some regions the focus on military operations has changed rapidly due to the events in Ukraine. That war starting exactly one year before the Abu Dhabi exhibition closure date, in the Middle East and African regions this is less true. That said the trends seen in recent confrontation, not only in Ukraine, led to the development of new systems, loitering munitions to name one, that are definitely among the stars along the ADNEC halls.

While the world industry is present showing its products, it is obviously the local industry that takes the stage, any companies unveiling number of new systems.

EDR On-Line brings you a selection of these in the following articles, more to be added soon.