The Higher Organising Committee of IDEX and NAVDEX has announced preparations are concluded for the 2021 edition of the exhibitions, as well as for the associated International Defence Conference.

The International Defence Exhibition (IDEX 2021), the Naval Defence Exhibition (NAVDEX 2021), and the International Defence Conference, are all held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, president of the UAE, with the exhibitions to run 21-25 February at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre. The International Defence Conference will take place on 20 February at the ADNOC Business Center.

All three events are organised by the Abu Dhabi National Exhibitions Company (ADNEC), in co-operation with the Ministry of Defence and the General Command of the UAE Armed Forces, and are designed to showcase the latest developments, technologies and innovations in the defence industry.

Organisers expect all three events to run on schedule and say confirmation of participation has been received “from many official delegations from countries all over the world”, in addition to decision-makers and specialists from across the sector. 

The organising committee has emphasised that the UAE is a safe destination, noting preventive measures have been developed to ensure the health, well-being, and security of visitors. ADNEC will be implementing global health and safety standards, including thermal scanners at all entrances, sanitisation and disinfection procedures taking place throughout and fogging machines used. All visitors and participants will be required to have a negative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) Covid-19 test. In addition, social distancing measures and the wearing of personal protective equipment (PPE) is being mandated across facilities.

NAVDEX is also expecting a significant number of naval vessels from countries around the world to arrive in February and to be on display at the ADNEC Marina during the exhibition. Organisers anticipate launching several new naval vessels during the exhibition.

The conference will be held as a hybrid event for the first time, both at the ADNOC Business Center and on-line, Artificial Intelligence and advanced technology will be high on the agenda.

-Arabian Defence