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ABU DHABI / WAM
Under the patronage of HH Sheikh Hazza bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Ruler of Abu Dhabi, HH Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, inaugurated the 6th session of the UMEX and SimTEX exhibitions (2024). The exhibitions will run from 23 till 25 January, with participation of 214 companies from 35 countries around the world.
The opening day witnessed the presence of distinguished personalities, including Mohammad Mubarak Fadhel Al-Mazrouei, Minister of State for Defence Affairs, Matar Salem Al Dhaheri, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Defence, Major General Khalifa Hareb Al Khaili, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Interior and Major General Mubarak Saeed Ghafan Al Jabri, Chairman of the Higher Organising Committee. Also in attendance were several officials from MoI and MoD and from the government and private sectors, members of the diplomatic corps and high ranking heads of international delegations participating in the exhibition.
HH Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, conducted an extensive tour of the exhibition pavilions, during which he was briefed on the most prominent unmanned systems, simulation and training. Various technologies that use artificial intelligence were highlighted, such as drones, autonomous applications, robots, and multi-use systems employed in the defence, civil, trade, and medical fields. In addition to the latest innovations in these systems, and the ethical frameworks and standards for their use to aid humans and support sustainable development paths.
Sheikh Saif also visited several national pavilions, including the Coding Challenge Competition pavilion of the Ministry of Defence, the International Gold Group (IGG) pavilion, the Callous pavilion, and the Edge Group pavilion, in addition to the Spanish SDLE NexGen pavilion.
His Highness inaugurated the exhibition emphasising that thanks to the support of the country’s wise leadership and guidance, the UAE is witnessing a growing and continuous development in the national defence industries sector.
This unlimited support and constant interest in developing the capabilities and competencies of the country’s armed forces reflect the high level of commitment and the vision of the wise leadership. This strategic vision is represented in the UMEX and SimTEX exhibitions, which showcase the spirit of innovation and development.
Sheikh Saif further stated that the UMEX and SimTEX exhibitions strengthen the UAE’s position as a leading country in the fields of defence and security on the regional and international levels. This is achieved through the innovative solutions they offer which promote international security and stability for a brighter and more prosperous future.
The current session of the UMEX and SimTEX exhibitions, organised by the ADNEC Group in cooperation with UAE Ministry of Defence, and the strategic partner, EDGE Group, is witnessing an exceptional increase in participation.
The exhibition hosted 214 companies, marking an increase of 19% compared to the previous session. These 35 countries include 11 new participating countries, including the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the State of Qatar, Switzerland, Luxembourg, the Republic of Singapore, the Netherlands, the Republic of Slovenia, Taiwan, the Republic of Estonia, the Virgin Islands, and the Czech Republic.
The UMEX and SimTEX exhibitions promote and encourage local innovation and business development through the participation of 72 local companies, representing about 34% of the total participating companies.
In addition, the total exhibition area in the current session increased by 15% to reach more than 30 thousand square meters.
The exhibitions include a wide and diverse range of exciting and incredible technical innovations that support the civilian sectors, such as transportation, construction, manufacturing, energy and economy. In addition to concluding several deals in the civilian sector, special prizes will be awarded for the best and most useful innovations in each sector.
The largest and most significant edition of UMEX and SimTEX witnesses the launch of five new initiatives, including live marine and land demonstrations at the main platform of ADNEC and in the Marina ADNEC area. Additionally, live shows will take place in the Sweihan Hills near Al Ain.
The “UMEX Business” platform will also be launched, serving as a platform for both civilian and military companies to showcase their latest technologies, products, and services, as well as exchange innovative ideas and insights.
The exhibitions provide an opportunity for Emirati programmers to participate in the coding challenge organized by the Ministry of Defence for nationals to showcase their skills and capabilities in innovation and creativity in the field of unmanned systems.
Furthermore, the event provides an opportunity for exhibitors and specialists to explore the advantages of the leading UMEX NextGen platform dedicated to startups. This platform allows them to connect with top professionals, form strategic partnerships, and access valuable investment opportunities.