The Abu Dhabi National Exhibitions Company (ADNEC) today announced a rise in participation, interest and engagement from specialised international marine based companies at the Naval Defence Exhibition (NAVDEX 2017) to be held in Abu Dhabi in conjunction with the International Defence Exhibition & Conference (IDEX 2017).

Organised by ADNEC in collaboration with the UAE Armed Forces under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE and Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, IDEX and NAVDEX 2017 will run at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre from 19 to 23 February, 2017.

Humaid Matar Al Dhaheri, Acting Group CEO of Abu Dhabi National Exhibitions Company, said: “The upcoming edition of NAVDEX is expected to welcome an increased number of naval defence industry experts, contractors and key international personnel across all levels.

“The UAE Armed Forces in conjunction with the UAE Navy continue to lend immense support and assistance in planning such events. Moreover, the NAVDEX 2017 Naval committee is working hard to finalise all pertinent procedures for participating vessels, warships and delegations.”

He added: “ADNEC’s strategic infrastructure has significantly upped the competitive advantage for NAVDEX. ADNEC is equipped with advanced indoor and outdoor space and a marine facility connected to the main hall by a pedestrian bridge, the only one of its kind in the Middle East region with capacity to accommodate military ships of various sizes. This will ensure the best display of maritime activity for visitors and participants.”

For his part, Saeed Al Mansouri, Director of IDEX and NAVDEX 2017, said: “The overwhelming response from the world’s naval defence community to NAVDEX 2017 and their keenness to participate in this mega event reflect the importance of the exhibition on the regional and international levels. NAVDEX 2017 offers a unique, innovative and interactive platform for industry experts and specialists to experience the latest in cutting-edge naval technology.

“Since the inaugural event in 2011, NAVDEX has experienced steady and solid growth in the number of regional and international participants. This year’s edition will be held across more than 13,000 square metres of exhibition space. Furthermore, it will host over 18 commanding naval officers, 21 coast guard commanders and 11 vessels from friendly and fraternal nations. These vessels will include a variety of hardware, notably frigates and destroyers – positioned at ADNEC’s marine facility and Zayed Port in Abu Dhabi.”

He added: “The milestones achieved by NAVDEX over the past few years validate ADNEC’s overall strategy to attract exhibitions, conferences and live events in keeping with international best practices. They also reaffirm Abu Dhabi’s status as a leading global hub for business tourism.”

Ahead of NAVDEX 2017, on 18 February, a workshop will be held at the headquarters of the National Archives in Abu Dhabi. It is expected to convene naval experts, decision-makers and leaders to discuss the security hurdles and challenges faced by the industry.

The exhibition is projected to ink several large deals between contractors and navy personnel. In addition, ADNEC’s marine facility and Port Zayed will witness the inauguration of several new maritime vessels and defence machinery.

IDEX 2015 attracted more than 1,200 local and international defence manufacturers and contractors and drew over 101,000 visitors from across the world. The event also facilitated business deals worth AED18.3 billion.