IDEX and NAVDEX 2025 signals the coming of age of UAE's growing domestic defence industry, with Abu Dhabi-based Edge Group showcasing a substantial portfolio of ground, sea and air systems and cementing its position as one of the world’s leading advanced technology and defence groups.
Over the four days of the show, Tawazun Council, the authority responsible for managing acquisitions, procurement, and contracts on behalf of UAE’s Ministry of Defense and security agencies, announced total orders worth AED23.72 billion. The fourth day of IDEX and NAVDEX 2025 witnessed a total of 12 new deals worth AED3.77 billion. Seven of these deals were contracts to domestic firms, with a total value of AED1.25 billion; these included major contracts with International Golden Group for supply of ammunition, procurement of shooting range targets from AM Industries, and implementation of the Tarjama programme by Bayanat.
International defence firms also received sizeable orders worth a total of AED 2.51 billion on the fourth day. Leonardo received an order for AW-139 helicopters, Rohde & Schwarz bagged a contract for radio reconnaissance systems and Nexter received a spare parts, repair, and technical support contact for Leclerc Main Battle Tanks. Saab and Lockheed Martin received orders to support G6000 SRSS early warning aircraft and support of Black Hawk helicopters, respectively.
As the show draws to a close, it is clear that IDEX and NAVDEX 2025 is an unqualified success, with over 1,565 companies from 65 countries exhibiting. More than 731 new companies took part this year, an indication of the UAE’s appetite for new and innovative defence technologies. Over 156 start-ups, (both domestic and international) took part in the exhibition. In total, more than 3,300 products and technologies were showcased.
The total exhibition space expanded to 181,501 square metres, with 41 national pavilions present this year, and 213 national companies exhibiting. A new dedicated platform for CBRNE (Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, and Explosives) awareness was successfully launched, with participation from 38 companies across 13 countries. IDEX and NAVDEX look set to scale even greater heights in its next edition due in 2027.
EDGE, an advanced technology and defence group, has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Emirates Cable Corporation Interconnect (ECCI)…
Abu Dhabi Ship Building (ADSB), part of the EDGE Group, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with German sensor…
The Brazilian National Secretariat for Penal Policies (SENAPPEN) has signed an initial contract worth R$7 million with CONDOR Non-Lethal Technologies,…
The Brazilian Navy has signed an agreement for the integration of MANSUP anti-ship missiles onto its Tamandaré-class stealth frigates. The…
CARACAL Light Ammunition, a subsidiary of the UAE’s EDGE Group, has signed a Letter of Intent (LOI) with PT Pindad,…
Milrem Robotics has partnered with Abu Dhabi-based SteerAI to enhance the UAE land forces' capabilities with autonomous unmanned ground vehicles…
The Israeli Ministry of Defence's Directorate for International Defence Cooperation (SIBAT), in collaboration with leading Israeli defence firms, participated in…
Abu Dhabi-based firms VentureOne and CARACAL have introduced Centurion, a new body armour system designed by the Technology Innovation Institute…
EDGE entity TRUST has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Point Trading Group, an Australian company supplying equipment and…
EDGE Group’s Learning & Innovation Factory (LIF) and the UAE Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology (MoIAT) have signed a…
TRUST, a subsidiary of the UAE-based EDGE group, has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Germany’s Diehl Defence to…
TRUST International Group, an entity under EDGE, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Leonardo DRS to collaborate on…
Tawazun Quality and Conformity has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with French company MBDA to strengthen cooperation in the…
AL TAIF, a subsidiary of EDGE Group, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with FNSS to modernise a fleet…
EDGE, a defence and technology group, has signed an agreement with CMN NAVAL to collaborate on naval projects. The agreement…
Milrem Robotics, EM&E Group, and Thales in Belgium will jointly explore commercial cooperation in the United Arab Emirates. The MoU…
KATIM, an EDGE entity specialising in secure communications and data protection, has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Australian…
Hensoldt has introduced the DL-6000, its latest data link system, at IDEX 2025. The sixth-generation solution facilitates secure, long-range, line-of-sight…
Estonian company Vegvisir has unveiled its new Vegvisir Virtual Command Station, at the ongoing IDEX. Vegvisir’s Virtual Command Station eliminates…
The prime contractor for the UAE Space Agency’s prestigious Sirb Programme, EDGE Group, has partnered with ST Engineering to accelerate…
Rafael Advanced Defense Systems is showcasing its pioneering directed energy systems and integrated intelligence and AI capabilities at the ongoing…
Electro Optic Systems (EOS) is promoting its next-generation Remote Weapon System (RWS) R500 at the ongoing IDEX. The new R500…
AM General, U.S. manufacturer of tactical military vehicles and mobility systems, is displaying its JLTV A2 at the ongoing IDEX.…
The third day of the show saw Abu-Dhabi headquartered Edge Group unveiling new platforms, forming strategic partnerships with international companies,…
Pakistan’s state-owned defence conglomerate Global Industrial & Defence Solutions (GIDS) is showcasing a new range of loitering munitions for the…
Republikorp has signed an agreement with Milanion Group at IDEX 2025 in Abu Dhabi to supply the Indonesian Navy with…
EPI, part of EDGE, has signed a Letter of Intent (LoI) with Lockheed Martin to explore opportunities aimed at supporting…
CARACAL, a key player in high-performance small arms within EDGE, has signed an agreement with Ketech Asia to assemble and…
EDGE is showcasing a new range of advanced electronic warfare (EW), radar, and electro-optical/infrared (EO/IR) systems at the ongoing show.…
EDGE and Leonardo have signed a strategic collaboration agreement to strengthen their existing partnership and explore new opportunities for joint…
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