IDEX 2007 approaches sellout status

The delegation to Eurosatory, the last of the three major biannual international defence exhibitions, was optimistic that all requests from defence contractors for exhibit space in the new 30,000 sq. metre IDEX 2007 exhibition hall can be accommodated.

Since the announcement earlier this month that Abu Dhabi National Exhibitions Company (ADNEC) would redevelop the current site into a world-class exhibition complex, the IDEX team has been inundated with expressions of interest by past, current and potential exhibitors. "The uniting of all exhibitor stands in one high-tech hall is of immense interest to the industry," said an IDEX spokesman. "Exhibitors tell us that they are scaling up their marketing plans to take advantage of the opportunities presented by a single large covered venue which combines the latest wireless technologies with state of the art amenities for visitors."

The official noted that several countries including Turkey, Italy, Australia and China either doubled or increased their exhibit space by considerable amounts during DSA - Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. He said that space valued at AED 2.8 million was sold during that exhibition as exhibitors signed up in an effort to make a big impact on buyers of defence armaments and technology at IDEX 2007.

The UAE will also be prominent in the new facility. Companies like IGG, Abu Dhabi Ship Building, Al Badi Group, Al Jaber group, Bin Jabr Group, Nashwan Exomos and others have booked space and are taking a large part of the outdoor area directly outside the main new venue.

Major defence and aerospace manufacturer BAE Systems has tripled the size of its booked space to 600 square metres. EADS, Thales, DaimlerChrysler, Finmeccanica, MBDA, Ruag , Boeing, Bumar, Lockheed Martin, Raytheon , GDLS and other companies have also expanded their exhibit space.

Construction is progressing on schedule toward a December completion date for the first exhibition hall, representing the first phase of the project and the new home of IDEX 2007. IDEX 2007 will take advantage of a temporary break in the construction project to stage its outdoor exhibition space directly outside the main exhibit hall February 18-22. This location is where helicopters will take off and land during IDEX 2007 and will be moved for later IDEX editions as this space will be transformed into a central landscaped courtyard.

The IDEX delegation to Eurosatory will conduct meetings with several large defence contractors who are anxious to finalize their IDEX exhibit requirements at this last major comprehensive armaments exhibition of 2006. Eurosatory attracts all those involved in equipping modern armed forces for Land and Land-air defence in particular. It is indicative of what is new within the industry, and also how Land and Land-air forces may evolve in future, whether it is in conventional warfare, counter-terrorism or humanitarian action.