(MENAFN- Emirates News Agency (WAM)) The Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Center, ADNEC, is completing its final preparations for the 12th edition of the International Defence Exhibition, IDEX, which is being held in the capital under the patronage of President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan from this coming Sunday.
Organised in cooperation with the Armed Forces General Commander, the five day show is expected to attract more than 80,000 visitors from all across the world.
The teams are working round the clock work with full supervision from the senior management to complete the preparations alongside hundreds of workmen to finalise the installations and exhibition space in accordance with the highest international standards, according to the organisers.
The biennial event was first held in 1993 and has witnessed significant growth in size and prestige. The first edition of IDEX was held on an area of 12,000 square meters, attracting 350 exhibitors from 24 countries.
Since, 2007 ADNEC has hosted the IDEX event that is known today. In 2005 and in response to the growing popularity of the event, ADNEC began developing a dedicated facility to house the exhibition and expand the facilities available to host large scale international conferences and exhibitions. Phase one of ADNEC opened in time to hold the IDEX 2007 showcase, marking a new era for the region's largest defence and security show.
IDEX brings great international interest and attention, positioning Abu Dhabi as a global destination site. The inauguration of the new ADNEC site, in 2007, as the centre for the defence exhibition, was officially opened by President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
In 2009, the ninth edition, the number of exhibitors and guests at IDEX had doubled and the event space had reached more than 108,000 square meters. This expansion included Abu Dhabi's Marina Quay area that is connected to ADNEC via a pedestrian walkway. Zayed Port used to provide this role for the waterside section of the exhibition.
Furthermore, investments made by ADNEC into developing the Marina area since 2011, the tenth edition of IDEX, has introduced NAVDEX (the regional largest maritime defence exhibition) for the first time, in conjunction with IDEX. ADNEC has been able to make IDEX the most prominent marine event in the region, with participation from 96 companies from around the world, including over 16 types of warships on display, as well as a U.S. aircraft carrier (the USS Carl Vinson). The exhibition has become the leading platform for maritime security industry, bringing together the latest technologies and services for various maritime security experts and stakeholders.
The length of this new waterside exhibition space is approximately 500 meters, allowing naval vessels of various sizes to dock. The marina area is also equipped to provide visual installations from the waterfront that feed directly into displays in the ADNEC hall, providing everyone inside with a view to the outside 'IDEX world'.
ADNEC will also bring a new first to IDEX 2015 through the launch of yet another key platform, the 1st edition of the Unmanned Systems Exhibition, UMEX. UMEX 2015 will provide a professional platform for security and defence manufacturers to meet operators in the field and establish lucrative business relationships, while promoting the latest developments and benefits of unmanned systems. Keeping pace with the forefront of industry innovations and market requirements, the new UMEX Exhibition is expected to be a key area of focus by experts and stakeholders attending over the course of five days.
IDEX 2013 was one of the most successful editions ever, with the number of exhibitors reaching over 1,110, and the exhibition garnered over 80,000 visitors.
For IDEX 2015, ADNEC is providing more than 133,000 square meters that contain 42 suites and 1,200 exhibitors from 55 countries from all continents of the world. In 2015, six new countries are participating for the first time: the Republic of Bosnia, Latvia, New Zealand, Slovenia, Azerbaijan and Japan. The latest line-ups for IDEX further demonstrate the exhibition as a window for major global defence companies to showcase the latest products and services to the world. This evolving expansion of IDEX validates the sustained success seen year after year.
In 2015, IDEX will continue to attract the latest technologies associated with security and defence technologies, showcased by the leading international defence companies. The exhibition will allow relationships in the sector to be built and for companies to learn about the innovations in their space. This year, there are a noticeable number of local UAE companies exhibiting. In 2013, 164 UAE companies participated at IDEX, compared to this year's figure of 174.
The Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre continues to strive and maintain its efforts to make further improvements in the facilities and services at IDEX. This is primarily to cope with the sustained growth seen in the number of participants attracted to the exhibition. The exhibition centre, which is more than 30 years old, has completed improvements to the runway, which is one of the most important elements of the IDEX Exhibition. For the inauguration ceremony, ADNEC has also re-developed the main atrium with a new covering, complete with modern arches above the seats, designed to give attendees a prestigious viewing experience. There have also been major improvements seen in the outside display area, which is located in the Open Plaza section of the ADNEC venue and provides open-air exhibition space for large installations.
The preparations for IDEX are gaining momentum, with the number of participants expected at the exhibition continuing to increase every day. Everyone involved, including all sub-committees, are committed to working in an integrated manner to prepare for the event and ensure that the success of the IDEX exhibition is upheld.
The event marks an opportunity to build on the achievements of previous editions and benefits from Abu Dhabi being centrally located on the world map, attracting investors and dignitaries from as far as China, India, and the wider Gulf region - which is expected to invest heavily in raising the level of security defence forces in the coming years.
IDEX 2015 arrives as dramatic changes shape the Middle East region. Many countries have implemented a number of wide programmes to upgrade their security and defence systems. This will drive more attention to the show as a distinguished trade platform for global companies, who are involved in the manufacturing of security and defence services.
IDEX continues to grow in size, structure, investment and international interest. To date, all the commercial spaces of the exhibition have been sold for the 2015 edition.
For the last four editions, IDEX has allocated a certain number of display spaces for exhibitors who are participating at the show for the first time, empowering smaller and newer companies to showcase their products and innovations to event visitors. The IDEX organisers also offer a special package of incentives to new exhibitors at the show in order to encourage a wider range of companies to become more connected at the event.
This approach has achieved remarkable success for small to medium sized companies, which seek to build partnerships with leading international organisations and open channels of communication to market their products through the IDEX gateway.
There is little doubt that this year's IDEX, NAVDEX and UMEX will witness the unveiling of the latest solutions in land, air and marine defence. Both developed and emerging countries will be showcase their great services to the sector, and fulfil opportunities to market their military products in the region. The show will witness the presence of senior government officials and decision makers from across the world, to global media representatives. During IDEX, many new signed agreements and products will also be announced, which will be the world's first look at these pioneering innovations.
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