Five new nations join 60 countries signed up for Abu Dhabi’s IDEX and NAVDEX in February

The organising committee for the International Defence Exhibition (IDEX 2021), the Naval Defence Exhibition (NAVDEX 2021), and the International Defence Conference, held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, president of the UAE, has met to discuss the preparations for IDEX and NAVDEX to be held in-person 21–25 February 2021 at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC), with the International Defence Conference being held on 20 February at the ADNOC Business Centre.

The committee announced that the exhibitions will see the participation of five new countries for the first time: Israel, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Portugal, and Azerbaijan. These additions have increased the number of countries taking part in IDEX and NAVDEX 2021 to 60 nations, with 1,300 defence companies due to be represented in Abu Dhabi.

IDEX 2021, NAVDEX 2021, and the International Defence Conference are organised by the Abu Dhabi National Exhibitions Company, in cooperation with the Ministry of Defence and the General Command of the UAE Armed Forces. The events showcase the latest developments in the defence sector the latest in military technology.

His Excellency, Major General Staff Pilot Faris Khalaf Al Mazrouei, chairman of the Higher Organising Committee for IDEX and NAVDEX and the International Defence Conference 2021, said: “The UAE is well known as an attractive and safe destination, ready to welcome visitors from across the world. We anticipate a large turnout at IDEX and at NAVDEX. In spite of the ongoing challenging global conditions, we are ready to welcome the world once again to Abu Dhabi. The UAE has seen a rapid pace of recovery from the COovid-19 pandemic.”

Humaid Matar Al Dhaheri, MD and Group CEO of ADNEC, commented: “ADNEC's preparations to host the upcoming edition of IDEX 2021, the Naval Defence Exhibition NAVDEX 2021, and the International Defence Conference are well underway. We have implemented a wide range of precautionary and preventative measures to ensure the health and safety of both visitors and participants. We want to set global benchmarks in the organisation and hosting of international exhibitions, demonstrating Abu Dhabi’s continued status as the region’s capital for business tourism.”

The 2021 International Defence Conference, accompanying the IDEX and NAVDEX exhibitions, will be held for the first time as a hybrid event, bringing together experts from all over the world virtually and on-ground at the ADNOC Business Centre.