Deals worth over AED 4.41 billion struck on day one of IDEX 2017

21 deals worth more than AED4.416 billion were signed today at the opening day of International Defence Exhibition and Conference, IDEX 2017.

Brigadier-General Rashid Mohammed Al Shamsi, Official Spokesperson for the 13th edition of IDEX, made this announcement on Sunday evening, hoping that the transaction could increase to AED 20 billion at the end of five-day show.

"15 of the deals are with national companies and the remaining 6 with international companies," Al Shamsi said while addressing a press conference.

Also headlining the conference were Major-General Staff Pilot Ishaq Saleh Al Balushi, Deputy-Chairman of the Higher Organising Committee of IDEX and Naval Staff Colonel Fahed Nasser Al Thehli, Official Spokesperson for the 4th edition of the Naval Defence Exhibition, NAVDEX 2017.

Brigadier-General Rashid Mohammed Al Shamsi announced the following contracts: A contract was signed with International Golden Group, IGG, to buy over AED 394.3 million worth of ammunitions for ground troops.

A contract worth over AED 13. 6 million was signed between Naval Advanced Solutions, NAS, and the UAE Navy for the development of their marine meteorological system.

A contract worth over AED 100. 4 million was signed with Abu Dhabi Ship Building, ADSB, for the supply and installation of electronic communications systems and exchange of information for the UAE Navy.

The British company, HESCO Group, has been contracted for the purchase of a number of defensive walls (fortifications) worth over AED 91. 4 million.

A contracts were signed with the French company, THALES UNDERWATER SYSTEM SAS, to buy over AED 85.2 million worth of sonars and with Tawazun Operation to buy armour mechanisms (8X8) amounting to over AED 2.4 billion.

A contract was signed between the UAE Armed Forces and the Finnish company, to buy Patria Land Systems worth over AED 225.4 million. Furthermore, contracting North Star Aviation to provide technical and logistical support to BELL 407 helicopters, valued at AED 15 million. In addition, a contract was signed with Star Satellite Telecom to buy replacement satellite telecommunication parts worth over AED 30.3 million.

A deal worth AED 50 million with GAL Air Traffic Control was signed to provide technical and specialist support in the main maintenance centre for the Air Force. Moreover, a contract was signed with Royal Jet for the management, operation, training and localisation of International Movements Operations Centre, IMOC, amounting to AED 80 million. In addition a contract was signed with Abu Dhabi Drilling company to provide maintenance and services for the Navy, valued over AED 17.3 million. A contract was also signed with Al Rumaithy Establishment to provide technical backing for ground forces valued at AED 15 million.

Moreover, today’s deals included a contract with Emirates Defence Technology to provide technical assistance (maintenance and supply of spare parts for machinery) worth AED 30 million. A contract over AED 181.3 million was signed with Caracal Light Ammunition, CLA, to buy ammunition and supply guns to the Armed Forces.

Tuff Global was contracted for the purchase of assorted ammunition for the Armed Forces, valued over AED 147.3 million. Moreover, a contract worth over AED 6.6 million was signed with Al Jaber company for the purchase and supply of rocket launchers. A contract about AED343. 8 million worth was signed with MBDA to buy ammunition for the Navy. Also, a contract over AED 40.7 million worth was signed with Watts Defence Optics and Hall to supply monitoring equipment for ground forces.

The Austrian company, Rosenbauer International AG, was contracted to buy extinguishing mechanisms valued at AED 36. 5 million. Next an AED 52. 8 million contract was signed with Beltech Export from Belarus to supply spare parts, repair services and technical assistance for armoured vehicles BMP-3.

Brigadier-General Rashid Mohammed Al Shamsi said that the volume of transactions on the first day of the exhibition reflects the leading stature of the exhibition. The demand from national and international defence players demonstrates their keenness to partake in the exhibition and use its unique platform to showcase their latest defence technologies and innovations. "IDEX offers stakeholders and experts the opportunities to identify new players in the market and seize world-class defence, security and civil technologies," he said.

IDEX and NAVDEX demonstrate the latest defence technologies across land, sea and air. Both offer a unique platform to establish and strengthen relationships with government departments, businesses and armed forces. The previous edition of IDEX held in 2015 witnessed the participation of over 1,200 national, regional and international exhibitors and attracted more than 101,000 visitors and generated deals exceeding AED18.3 billion.

Emirates Defence Industries Company, EDIC, is the strategic partner for IDEX 2017 whilst Tawazun Holding (Tawazun) is the principle partner. Abu Dhabi Shipping Building, ADSB, is the principle partner for NAVDEX 2017.