The UAE Armed Forces awarded contracts worth Dh5.03 billion ($1.37bn) on the first day of the International Defence Exhibition and Conference, with the lion’s share going to local companies.
The Armed Forces, which signed a total of 19 contracts, signed seven deals worth Dh1.1bn with international companies, while local companies won contracts worth Dh3.9bn, Staff Brig Gen Mohammed Al Hassani, official spokesman for Idex and Navdex, said on Sunday.
Among the local companies that won contracts was Calidus, which clinched deals valued at Dh1.69bn. Military vehicle manufacturer Nimr was awarded a Dh230 million deal and Ammroc secured a Dh176m contract.
Other UAE-based companies that secured deals included International Golden Group and the Al Masaood company.
US-based Insitu, a Boeing company, won a contract worth Dh405m for the supply of unmanned vehicles. German defence company Rheinmetall won a Dh57.42m deal and France’s Thales clinched a Dh350.6m contract.
"It is a good amount to start for a first day. There is a good mix of local and international companies in the contracts," said Brig Gen Al Hassani.
Idex, which began yesterday in Abu Dhabi, is the Middle East’s largest defence expo. It has drawn industry leaders eager to showcase their latest technology, from drones to armoured vehicles.
The five-day biennial exhibition is the first major defence trade show to take place since the coronavirus pandemic began a year ago.
The total value of deals the UAE is expected to sign this year is expected to be similar to 2019 levels, according to organisers. The Armed Forces awarded contracts worth Dh20.5bn at Idex 2019.
Defence spending by Gulf countries grew by 5.4 per cent to $100bn last year, up from $94.9bn in 2019, according to defence intelligence specialist Janes.
Gulf expenditure on defence is expected to fall by 9.4 per cent this year, before dropping to $89.4bn in 2022 because of lower oil prices and Covid-19, according to Janes.
It expects spending to return to pre-pandemic levels by 2024.
Local and international companies such as Boeing, Raytheon Technologies, Lockheed Martin, France’s Thales, the Naval Group and Saudi Military Industries have a large presence this year.
Defence companies will use Idex as a platform to unveil new products, and all eyes will be on UAE defence conglomerate Edge.
At its sprawling stand, the company is displaying its Halcon missile system and armoured vehicles made by its subsidiary Nimr, among other equipment.
Kalashnikov Concern – the largest Russian manufacturer of small arms, guided artillery shells and high-precision weapons – is displaying its AK-15 rifles among dozens of products.
Countries in the Middle East are "very much top of mind as a growth market" for Boeing, said Torbjorn Sjogren, vice president for international government and defence.
The US aircraft maker projected that government support and services from 2020 to 2029 will be worth $1.4 trillion.
The Middle East represents a share of the services market worth $195bn, with more than half of that dedicated to defence and security services.
Gulf countries, particularly the UAE and Saudi Arabia, intend to develop their domestic military industries to produce arms locally amid a push to diversify their economies, create jobs and reduce their reliance on imports.
Saudi Arabia will invest about $20bn in its military industry and defence-related research and development over the next decade as part of plans to localise half of its military spending by 2030, according to Ahmad AlOhali, governor of the General Authority for Military Industries.
The kingdom plans to raise its spending on military R&D from 0.2 per cent to 4 per cent by 2030, putting it on par with the global average, said Mr AlOhali.
Participants at this year's Idex will be focused on cyber security, autonomous weapons, advanced technology such as artificial intelligence in defence applications and the protection of supply chains amid the global health crisis.
Organisers announced strict social distancing measures this year to protect public health.
White hydrogen: Naturally occurring hydrogen
Chromite: Hard, metallic mineral containing iron oxide and chromium oxide
Ultramafic rocks: Dark-coloured rocks rich in magnesium or iron with very low silica content
Ophiolite: A section of the earth’s crust, which is oceanic in nature that has since been uplifted and exposed on land
Olivine: A commonly occurring magnesium iron silicate mineral that derives its name for its olive-green yellow-green colour
The specs
Engine: Long-range single or dual motor with 200kW or 400kW battery
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Max touring range: 620km / 590km
Price: From Dh250,000 (estimated)
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Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere
Director: Scott Cooper
Starring: Jeremy Allen White, Odessa Young, Jeremy Strong
Rating: 4/5
Tips for job-seekers
- Do not submit your application through the Easy Apply button on LinkedIn. Employers receive between 600 and 800 replies for each job advert on the platform. If you are the right fit for a job, connect to a relevant person in the company on LinkedIn and send them a direct message.
- Make sure you are an exact fit for the job advertised. If you are an HR manager with five years’ experience in retail and the job requires a similar candidate with five years’ experience in consumer, you should apply. But if you have no experience in HR, do not apply for the job.
David Mackenzie, founder of recruitment agency Mackenzie Jones Middle East
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre V8 twin-turbocharged and three electric motors
Power: Combined output 920hp
Torque: 730Nm at 4,000-7,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch automatic
Fuel consumption: 11.2L/100km
On sale: Now, deliveries expected later in 2025
Price: expected to start at Dh1,432,000
Motori Profile
Date started: March 2020
Co-founder/CEO: Ahmed Eissa
Based: UAE, Abu Dhabi
Sector: Insurance Sector
Size: 50 full-time employees (Inside and Outside UAE)
Stage: Seed stage and seeking Series A round of financing
Investors: Safe City Group
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COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
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SPEC%20SHEET
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The Sheikh Zayed Future Energy Prize
This year’s winners of the US$4 million Sheikh Zayed Future Energy Prize will be recognised and rewarded in Abu Dhabi on January 15 as part of Abu Dhabi Sustainable Week, which runs in the capital from January 13 to 20.
From solutions to life-changing technologies, the aim is to discover innovative breakthroughs to create a new and sustainable energy future.
The specs
Engine: 5.2-litre V10
Power: 640hp at 8,000rpm
Torque: 565Nm at 6,500rpm
Transmission: 7-speed dual-clutch auto
Price: From Dh1 million
On sale: Q3 or Q4 2022
Saturday's results
West Ham 2-3 Tottenham
Arsenal 2-2 Southampton
Bournemouth 1-2 Wolves
Brighton 0-2 Leicester City
Crystal Palace 1-2 Liverpool
Everton 0-2 Norwich City
Watford 0-3 Burnley
Manchester City v Chelsea, 9.30pm
Quick pearls of wisdom
Focus on gratitude: And do so deeply, he says. “Think of one to three things a day that you’re grateful for. It needs to be specific, too, don’t just say ‘air.’ Really think about it. If you’re grateful for, say, what your parents have done for you, that will motivate you to do more for the world.”
Know how to fight: Shetty married his wife, Radhi, three years ago (he met her in a meditation class before he went off and became a monk). He says they’ve had to learn to respect each other’s “fighting styles” – he’s a talk it-out-immediately person, while she needs space to think. “When you’re having an argument, remember, it’s not you against each other. It’s both of you against the problem. When you win, they lose. If you’re on a team you have to win together.”
2019 Asian Cup final
Japan v Qatar
Friday, 6pm
Zayed Sports City Stadium, Abu Dhabi
BRIEF SCORES:
Toss: Nepal, chose to field
UAE 153-6: Shaiman (59), Usman (30); Regmi 2-23
Nepal 132-7: Jora 53 not out; Zahoor 2-17
Result: UAE won by 21 runs
Series: UAE lead 1-0
