The United Arab Emirates is accelerating its engagement with the Asia-Pacific defence sector, highlighted by the decision to establish an official national pavilion at the Defence & Security 2025 exhibition in Bangkok, Thailand.
Organised by the Abu Dhabi National Exhibitions Company (ADNEC Group), the UAE Pavilion serves as a showcase platform for the country’s expanding defence-technology ecosystem during the event, which runs from 10–13 November 2025.
A number of leading Emirati companies are participating within the pavilion, including EDGE Group, Calidus Holding, BHE Land Systems and defence publication Al Jundi. Their collective presence demonstrates the UAE’s determination to position itself among the fastest-growing defence markets globally.
Expanding into a High-Growth Market
The Asia-Pacific region continues to register some of the highest increases in defence spending as nations prioritise modernisation, maritime security and emerging threat preparedness. Demand for unmanned platforms, artificial intelligence-enabled systems, integrated air and missile defence and secure communications is rising across Southeast Asia in particular.
By establishing a national pavilion in Bangkok, the UAE is signalling a major step in advancing long-term commercial and government-to-government relationships in this strategic region. The initiative underscores Abu Dhabi’s broader defence-industrial strategy: to grow exports, support domestic manufacturing, and expand its footprint in competitive global markets.
The move also highlights a growing Gulf-Asia defence nexus. As Middle Eastern states diversify their procurement partnerships, Southeast Asian governments likewise benefit from increased supplier competition and technology-transfer opportunities. This creates more options for regional primes and system integrators seeking new joint-development ventures or access to established Gulf supply chains.
A Broader Defence-Industrial Ecosystem
ADNEC Group, through its events arm Capital Events, plays a central role in elevating the UAE’s international defence presence. The company manages globally recognised exhibitions such as IDEX, NAVDEX, UMEX and SIMTEX, which have successfully showcased the UAE’s evolution from a defence importer to a rising exporter with sophisticated indigenous capabilities.
EDGE Group, in particular, has rapidly expanded through acquisitions, R&D investments, and export-driven strategies across air, land, naval and autonomous systems. Its participation in Bangkok is set to attract attention from defence ministries and procurement officials across ASEAN and the wider Asia-Pacific region.
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