Top UAE expos witness record participation; deals hit $6.8bn
The International Defence Exhibition (IDEX) and Naval Defence and Maritime Security Exhibition (Navdex) 2025 ended on a successful note with record-breaking participation and the deal values during the five-day event surging to over AED25.15 billion ($6.8 billion), said the organisers.
Held from February 17 to 21 at Adnec Centre Abu Dhabi, this year's IDEX and Navdex were its largest-ever editions till date with visitor numbers soaring by more than 55.5% to reach 206,073 attendees from around the world.
The Tawazun Council, the independent government entity responsible for acquisitions, procurement, and contracts for the Ministry of Defence and security agencies in the UAE, announced 55 new deals at the five-day event, thus reflecting a 10% increase compared to the previous edition.
Organised by Adnec Group in collaboration with the UAE Ministry of Defence and Tawazun Council, the exhibitions received widespread international acclaim from participants, visitors, senior leaders, decision-makers, and industry experts in the defence sectors.
Notably, 70% of exhibition space for the 2027 edition has already been pre-booked, which will take place from January 2027, stated the organisers.
These agreements, signed with local and international defence firms, underscore the UAE's commitment to enhancing its defence capabilities and fostering global industrial partnerships, they added.
Major General Pilot Faris Khalaf Al Mazrouei, Chairman of the Higher Organising Committee of IDEX and Navdex, said the strong participation in this year's exhibitions underscores the UAE's esteemed global standing and the significant advancements in its national defence industries.
He emphasised that these achievements are driven by the expertise and dedication of Emirati talent, reinforcing Abu Dhabi's position as a global hub for thought leaders, decision-makers, and a centre for innovation and excellence in these vital sectors.
Major General Staff Mubarak Saeed Ghafan Al Jabri, the Deputy Chairman of the Committee, pointed out that the national companies achieved remarkable success in this year's edition of the exhibitions.
These companies showcased the advancement of their industries and products and made significant progress in enhancing local technological capabilities through knowledge transfer.
Moreover, they have become key contributors to several critical sectors in the UAE, particularly in aviation, naval systems, advanced technologies (such as artificial intelligence and cybersecurity), and space, stated Al Jabri.
According to him, this edition witnessed a notable increase in the number of partnerships and the total value of deals announced during this global event.
National companies secured 68% of the total contracts signed by the Tawazun Council, while 32% were awarded to international companies.
This underscores the technological growth and innovation achieved by UAE-based companies, he noted.
The exhibitions also demonstrate the country's continuous efforts to attract and integrate the latest Fourth Industrial Revolution technologies, leveraging them to serve humanity and uphold global security and stability, he added.
Humaid Matar Al Dhaheri, Managing Director and Group CEO of Adnec Group, said that IDEX and Navdex serve as fundamental pillars in Adnec Group's efforts to support national economic diversification. This is achieved by providing opportunities that contribute to the development of various industrial sectors and by organising and hosting major events that have attracted visitors from across the world.
The number of visitors reached 206,073, reflecting a growth rate of over 55.5% compared to the previous edition.
The current edition recorded a significant increase in the percentage of international visitors, reaching 57% of the total attendees from 167 countries, while local visitors accounted for 43%.
The visitor demographics included 85% male attendees and 15% female attendees.
Besides the UAE ranked first in visitor numbers, followed by China, Turkey, the United States, India, France, Russia, South Korea, the United Kingdom, Saudi Arabia, Germany, and Ukraine.
Al Dhaheri added that IDEX and NAVDEX have presented a continuous success story for more than three decades in the exhibition and conference industry.
These events have played a vital role in supporting national economic diversification and shaping the roadmap for the next 50 years, in alignment with the vision of the wise leadership to support and develop vital and promising sectors through the adoption of advanced technologies and industries.
This has reinforced the UAE's position as a global hub for innovation and technology.
The exhibitions have also contributed to GDP growth, income diversification, and the advancement of advanced industries, which are crucial to economic development, while also creating job opportunities across various industrial sectors in the country.
Al Dhaheri said the 2025 editions of IDEX and Navdex achieved record-breaking satisfaction levels among exhibitors and visitors.
This year's editions introduced several first-time features and initiatives. IDEX showcased advancements across 17 critical defence sectors, including land, air, and unmanned systems. Cutting-edge technologies such as navigation, radar, command and control, electronic warfare, and personal defence systems were displayed, reflecting modern military readiness and operational excellence.
Navdex, in its eighth edition, featured an exceptional display of naval fleets from eight nations, including the UAE, Bahrain, Oman, Pakistan, Greece, South Korea, and India.
Vessels and maritime systems were exhibited at Adnec Marina and Zayed Port, reinforcing the growing significance of maritime security and naval defence solutions.
The 2025 International Defence Conference, held alongside the exhibitions, attracted over 1,800 attendees, a 25% increase from the previous edition. It featured participation from 55 military delegation heads, 40 CEOs of defence companies, 48 ambassadors, and 65 military attachés.
Discussions centred on global security challenges, supply chain resilience, information warfare, and emerging threats in space, with 12 prominent speakers including ministers and top defence officials, it stated.
The current edition of the exhibition featured 1,565 companies from 65 countries, marking a 16% increase compared to the previous edition. Additionally, the total exhibition space expanded by 10%, reaching 181,501 sqm.
A total of 731 companies participated for the first time, representing an 82% increase, alongside 213 Emirati companies, which accounted for 16% of the total exhibitors, reflecting the advancement of the UAE's defence industries sector.
According to Adnec, seven countries made their debut this year at IDEX, including Qatar, Ethiopia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, and Cyprus.
The exhibition featured more than 156 start-ups from around the world, representing 10% of all exhibitors. These companies showcased a wide range of innovations and technologies to decision-makers and industry specialists.
Dedicated platforms for start-ups included IDEX Next Gen, which hosted over 100 start-ups from around the world.
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