Photos: IDEX and NAVDEX open in Abu Dhabi with huge global participation

HH Sheikh Hamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Member of Abu Dhabi Executive Council tours the International Defence Exhibition and Conference 2021 (IDEX), at ADNEC. Seen with Rear Admiral Pilot HH Sheikh Saeed bin Hamdan bin Mohamed Al Nahyan, Commander of the UAE Naval Forces (L) and HE Major General Essa Saif Al Mazrouei, Deputy Chief of Staff of the UAE Armed Forces.

People visit military equipment on display during the opening day of the International Defence Exhibition & Conference, IDEX, in Abu Dhabi. The International Defence Exhibition and Conference (IDEX) and the Naval Defence and Maritime Security Exhibition (NAVDEX) opened in Abu Dhabi today with the participation of more than 900 companies.

A military delegation visit the display of Halcon, a regional leader in the end-to-end manufacturing of precision-guided systems, during the opening day of the International Defence Exhibition & Conference, IDEX, in Abu Dhabi.

Sheikh Hamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Member of Abu Dhabi Executive Council tours the International Defence Exhibition and Conference 2021 (IDEX), at ADNEC. Seen with Rear Admiral Pilot Sheikh Saeed bin Hamdan bin Mohamed Al Nahyan, Commander of the UAE Naval Forces (2nd R).

Al Fursan, or the Knights, a UAE Air Force aerobatic display team, perform during the opening day of the International Defence Exhibition & Conference, IDEX.

Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation tours the International Defence Exhibition and Conference 2021 (IDEX), at ADNEC.

This year's events have also attracted the participation of five new countries - Israel, Luxembourg, Portugal, Azerbaijan and North Macedonia.

The events are being held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, and will run until 25the February at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre. Abobe, visitors and officials pass by Sahm, a light tactical armoured vehicle assembled in UAE.

IDEX and NAVEX 2021 will showcase the latest developments in the defence sector. They will also highlight the latest in military technology, innovative equipment, and the development of the national defence sector. Above, Al Fursan, or the Knights, a UAE Air Force aerobatic display team, perform during the opening day of the International Defence Exhibition & Conference, IDEX.

Sheikh Hamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Member of Abu Dhabi Executive Council tours the International Defence Exhibition and Conference 2021 (IDEX), at ADNEC. Seen with HE Major General Essa Saif Al Mazrouei, Deputy Chief of Staff of the UAE Armed Forces.

Additionally, the exhibitions will allow the forging of new strategic relationships between attending entities and major international companies specialised in these sectors.

Visitors and officials pass by a combat drone from Etmad, an Emirati company, during the opening day of the International Defence Exhibition & Conference, IDEX, in Abu Dhabi. The exhibitions will also provide participants and visitors the opportunity to explore how technological adoption can be used to contribute toward world peace.