ADNEC prepares for biggest-ever IDEX

Ninety-five per cent of exhibit space has already been booked by international, regional and local companies operating in the defence and related sectors.

IDEX is one the world's largest defence exhibitions and the 9th edition of the show will be held February 22-26, 2009 under the patronage of HH Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre. IDEX 2009 is poised to take up all 12 halls at ADNEC's 55,000 square metre venue.

'IDEX is the show-piece defence industry event for the Middle East, Africa and the Asian region and we are very excited about the way it is shaping up. The 2009 edition looks set to be bigger and better than ever and we are very confident that IDEX will continue to build on its world-class credentials,'

said Ahmad Humaid Al Mazrouie, Managing Director of ADNEC, which is organising the show in association with the UAE Armed Forces GHQ.

Mohamed Al Mashgouni, IDEX 2009 Show Director, said more than 50 countries will be represented at the show. 'Net exhibit space is poised to grow 20 percent from 30,000 square metres in 2007 to more than 35,000 in 2009. Demand for space continues unabated and we are doing our best to satisfy all prospective exhibitors,' he said.

'The number of exhibitors is set to increase from 862 in 2007 to more than 900. This growth is testimony to IDEX's stature as a key event in the global defence industry calendar and is especially creditable coming as it does despite the mergers and consolidations that have become increasingly common in the international defence industry recently,' he added.

Mashgouni noted that IDEX is seen worldwide as one of the most important marketing opportunities for the world's defence industry. The show displays the latest defence equipment, systems and technology for the benefit of high-profile visitors comprising defence and security personnel from the region.

Thales, Sagem, Boeing, BAE Systems, Lockheed Martin, Raytheon, Kamas Incorporated and Denel are among the top international defence firms who have confirmed their presence at the show. In a sign that the region's defence sector is coming into its own, several exhibitors from the region such as King Abdullah II Design and Development Bureau (KADDB) - Jordan and Advanced Electronics Company - Saudi Arabia are also participating. Mubadala, Caracal, Offset Group, Abu Dhabi Ship Building, International Golden Group (IGG), Al Masaood, Bin Jabr and the Abu Dhabi Chamber of Commerce & Industry rank among the top local exhibitors at next year's event.

Over 30 national pavilions and nearly one hundred military delegations will take part. Amphibious demonstrations featuring a range of craft will be held in the channel opposite Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre and naval vessels up to corvette size will be berthed at the new jetty being built there. Jane's Information Group will organise the Gulf Defence Conference alongside IDEX 2009.

The previous edition of IDEX in 2007 featured 862 exhibitors, 143 official delegations from 50 countries, 27 national pavilions, and attracted 29 mobility displays from 10 countries. Contracts worth more than $545m (Dhs2bn) were announced at the show including $380m (Dhs1.4bn) worth of deals signed by the UAE Armed Forces. Nearly one thousand media personnel attended IDEX 2007.