The first day of defense exhibits Idex and Navdex 2025 saw firms ink some 13 defense contracts worth nearly AED 4 bn, state news agency Wam reports. State defense firm Edge secured multiple contracts, with more set to come during Idex, which ends on Friday.

Domestic defense partnerships took the cake, with nine local contracts inked worth AED 3.8 bn. These include:

  • An AED 1.8 bn contract secured by local defense firm Calidus Land Systems for multi-role MTAV 4×4 vehicles;
  • An AED 399.4 mn contract for data provisioning and smart services inked by Edge Group and a EUR 500 mn maintenance support contract for the UAE navy for Maestral, a shipbuilding JV between Edge and Italy’s Fincantieri
  • Two contracts for International Golden Group, including a AED 685.8 mn agreement for ammunition and AED 309 mn for aviation equipment;
  • Thales’ UAE arm Thales Emarat Technologies landed an AED 110.5 mn contract to purchase spare parts and materials and for maintenance and technical support, while contractor Al Masaood and Global Aerospace Logistics landed similar agreements worth AED 20 mn and AED 53 mn;
  • NMDC also landed a AED 299.2 mn contract to develop unmanned platforms;
  • and Abu Dhabi’s Injazat Data Systems was awarded a contract to provide digital transformation services valued at AED 138.7 mn.

ALSO FROM IDEX-

#1- Katim and Indra partner up on secure military communication: Edge’s subsidiary Katim and Spain’s Indra Sistemas teamed up to develop advanced secure communication systems for Nato and Spanish markets, according to a press release.

#2- Edge and ELT eye JV: Edge and Italy’s ELT Group signed a MoU to assess the creation of a UAE-based joint venture focused on electronic warfare and cyber electromagnetic applications, according to a press release. The agreement aims to develop advanced electronic warfare systems for integration across air, land, maritime, and space operations.

The details: Potential projects include embedding ELT’s electromagnetic spectrum technologies into maritime platforms built by Edge subsidiaries Abu Dhabi Ship Building Company and Maestral. The proposed JV would prioritize locally developed solutions for UAE defense needs while targeting exports in non-Nato markets.

#3- Defense cooperation with Qatar to come? The strategic investment arm of Qatar’s Defense Ministry, Barzan Holdings, will sign its first-ever agreement with an Emirati company, inking an MoU with UAE state-owned defense giant Edge Group at Idex, Reuters reports, citing statements from Barzan Group CEO Abdullah Al Khater. The agreement will cover co-development programs and future production, without disclosing further details.

The deal follows Barzan’s MoU with Saudi defense firm Sami last year, which marked the first such Gulf defense partnership. Al Khater noted that GCC countries are shifting toward localizing military production, reducing reliance on imports, and developing domestic defense capabilities.

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