The story of Edge
Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, established Edge in 2019.
It brought together 25 state-owned and independent companies specialising in weapons systems, cyber protection and electronic warfare.
Edge has an annual revenue of $5 billion and employs more than 12,000 people.
Some of the companies include Nimr, a maker of armoured vehicles, Caracal, which manufactures guns and ammunitions company, Lahab
One of the biggest defence companies in the Middle East says it will bounce back from Covid-19 with more vigour than ever.
Not only is business at Abu Dhabi's Edge returning to normal, but the company is working on sophisticated new weapons.
Established last year to combine the emirate's defence and technology sectors, Edge encompasses at least 25 companies.
Covid affected all businesses worldwide and when the cases were escalated, our business, like many, came to a standstill
Armoured vehicles, cyber warfare and electronic intelligence systems are just some of its areas of expertise. Many products were on display at last year's Dubai Airshow and Abu Dhabi's Unmanned System Exhibition and Conference.
In exclusive interviews with The National, the leaders of some these companies spoke about how Edge mitigated the effect of the coronavirus, is expanding its global footprint and how the normalisation of ties with Israel brings opportunity.
The challenges of the coronavirus
Like all sectors, defence was hit by the pandemic but now the picture is different.
“We have worked hard to minimise the impact of Covid-19," said Arafat Al Yafei, chief executive of Lahab (Arabic for flame), the UAE’s only ammunition manufacturer.
"Most of the suppliers are from different sectors and all the transportation lines have been impacted by Covid, so delay was there. However, I can assure you that the impact on us was minimal,” Mr Al Yafei said.
Officials said the impact of Covid-19 hit sales by 10 per cent, and with a combined annual revenue of $5 billion, that could mean a lot.
“Covid affected all businesses worldwide and when the cases escalated, our business, like many, came to a standstill. We still see disruptions in our facility but now we have come close to almost normal,” said Abraham DuPlessis, chief executive of Nimr (Arabic for tiger), that makes armoured vehicles.
"There was a period of six weeks to a month where productivity completely stopped. The impact I would say was around 10 per cent,” Mr DuPlessis said.
Edge employs more than 12,000 people and is steadily expanding its network. For example, Halcon in 2019 signed a $1 billion (Dh3.67bn) contract to deliver its Desert Sting-16 precision-guided weapons to the UAE Armed Forces. Edge's Adasi also unveiled the first fully autonomous Emirati-made drone earlier this year. Edge's companies are also exploring new markets, such as Israel.
"From our side wherever there is an opportunity, we are always after it under the guidelines of the government,” Mr Al Yafei said.
Why bullets still matter in world of cyber war
Lahab makes everything from bullets to bombs and meets US military and Nato specifications. Ammunition may be considered an older sector but is there any concern cyberware will make the bullet redundant?
“Cyber threats don’t eliminate the importance of a bullet," Mr Al Yafei said.
"A bullet is important for a weapon to function so I do not see that there is any chance that ammunition or conventional ammunition will be less important in the future."
The latest technology in ammunition involves guided warheads whose main objective is to ensure accuracy.
“You have ammunition that is integrated with guiding systems and with tracking systems – all of these new technologies are being studied and implemented.”
He said that orders are linked to geopolitical situations around the world but that orders for training scenarios are also important.
“At Lahab we are applying the latest technologies. We have a talented workforce and we manufacture full ammunition, from small range up to aircraft bombs. We are very proud to be the only manufacturer of ammunition in the country, which gives us both pride and a sense of responsibility,” he said.
Armoured vehicles made in the UAE
Nimr is the UAE’s leading manufacturer of armoured vehicles.
Exporting to nine countries across the globe, it plans to expand to Malaysia and Indonesia. Some of the vehicles come with an eye-watering price tag of almost $1m.
Its 4x4 and 6x6 vehicles are used in military scenarios and crowd control and, apart from the UAE Armed Forces, Algeria is its biggest customer.
"These vehicles are very expensive," said Mr DuPlessis. "If you compare them to your normal passenger car you would be quite astonished."
The range varies from $300,000 to $900,000 for one vehicle but they can easily last up to 40 years in service. The vehicles are made at a factory on the outskirts of Abu Dhabi.
Every few years the vehicles are stripped down and upgraded to what is almost a brand-new product.
“Our efforts now are in the next generation of vehicles which are the lighter vehicles – the Ajban and the Hafeet,” Mr DuPlessis said.
Nimr is also focusing on driverless cars, which are the next generation of combat vehicles.
“Although we are not developers of these technologies, our vehicles must accept it," said Mr DuPlessis. "We are redoing the whole electronic architecture of all the vehicles to allow us to have a digital platform that is open for third parties to integrate with and to make command and control easier to allow, in the future, driverless vehicles,” he said.
It is clear to see that Edge is forging ahead. Covid-19 is being overcome, but there are other challenges that Edge is confident of meeting.
“Challenge is part of life,” Mr Al Yafei said.
“We have challenges with Covid, we have challenges with keeping the high quality, we have challenges of reducing the cost [and] of the penetration of new markets," he said.
"That is the beauty of life, to have challenges and overcomes those challenges."
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
UAE SQUAD FOR ASIAN JIU-JITSU CHAMPIONSHIP
Men’s squad: Faisal Al Ketbi, Omar Al Fadhli, Zayed Al Kathiri, Thiab Al Nuaimi, Khaled Al Shehhi, Mohamed Ali Al Suwaidi, Farraj Khaled Al Awlaqi, Muhammad Al Ameri, Mahdi Al Awlaqi, Saeed Al Qubaisi, Abdullah Al Qubaisi and Hazaa Farhan
Women's squad: Hamda Al Shekheili, Shouq Al Dhanhani, Balqis Abdullah, Sharifa Al Namani, Asma Al Hosani, Maitha Sultan, Bashayer Al Matrooshi, Maha Al Hanaei, Shamma Al Kalbani, Haya Al Jahuri, Mahra Mahfouz, Marwa Al Hosani, Tasneem Al Jahoori and Maryam Al Amri
Jetour T1 specs
Engine: 2-litre turbocharged
Power: 254hp
Torque: 390Nm
Price: From Dh126,000
Available: Now
Specs
Engine: Duel electric motors
Power: 659hp
Torque: 1075Nm
On sale: Available for pre-order now
Price: On request
Islamophobia definition
A widely accepted definition was made by the All Party Parliamentary Group on British Muslims in 2019: “Islamophobia is rooted in racism and is a type of racism that targets expressions of Muslimness or perceived Muslimness.” It further defines it as “inciting hatred or violence against Muslims”.
the pledge
I pledge to uphold the duty of tolerance
I pledge to take a first stand against hate and injustice
I pledge to respect and accept people whose abilities, beliefs and culture are different from my own
I pledge to wish for others what I wish for myself
I pledge to live in harmony with my community
I pledge to always be open to dialogue and forgiveness
I pledge to do my part to create peace for all
I pledge to exercise benevolence and choose kindness in all my dealings with my community
I pledge to always stand up for these values: Zayed's values for tolerance and human fraternity
Herc's Adventures
Developer: Big Ape Productions
Publisher: LucasArts
Console: PlayStation 1 & 5, Sega Saturn
Rating: 4/5
More from Rashmee Roshan Lall
The Sand Castle
Director: Matty Brown
Stars: Nadine Labaki, Ziad Bakri, Zain Al Rafeea, Riman Al Rafeea
Rating: 2.5/5
Tamkeen's offering
- Option 1: 70% in year 1, 50% in year 2, 30% in year 3
- Option 2: 50% across three years
- Option 3: 30% across five years
Florence and the Machine – High as Hope
Three stars
Skoda Superb Specs
Engine: 2-litre TSI petrol
Power: 190hp
Torque: 320Nm
Price: From Dh147,000
Available: Now
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The rules on fostering in the UAE
A foster couple or family must:
- be Muslim, Emirati and be residing in the UAE
- not be younger than 25 years old
- not have been convicted of offences or crimes involving moral turpitude
- be free of infectious diseases or psychological and mental disorders
- have the ability to support its members and the foster child financially
- undertake to treat and raise the child in a proper manner and take care of his or her health and well-being
- A single, divorced or widowed Muslim Emirati female, residing in the UAE may apply to foster a child if she is at least 30 years old and able to support the child financially
RESULTS
5pm: Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 (Turf) 2,200m
Winner: Jawal Al Reef, Fernando Jara (jockey), Ahmed Al Mehairbi (trainer)
5.30pm: Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 1,600m
Winner: AF Seven Skies, Bernardo Pinheiro, Qais Aboud
6pm: Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 1,200m
Winner: Almahroosa, Fabrice Veron, Eric Lemartinel
6.30pm: Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 1,200m
Winner: AF Sumoud, Tadhg O’Shea, Ernst Oertel
7pm: Wathba Stallions Cup Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 (T) 1,200m
Winner: AF Majalis, Tadhg O’Shea, Ernst Oertel
7.30pm: Handicap (TB) Dh90,000 (T) 1,400m
Winner: Adventurous, Sandro Paiva, Ali Rashid Al Raihe
Series info
Test series schedule 1st Test, Abu Dhabi: Sri Lanka won by 21 runs; 2nd Test, Dubai: Play starts at 2pm, Friday-Tuesday
ODI series schedule 1st ODI, Dubai: October 13; 2nd ODI, Abu Dhabi: October 16; 3rd ODI, Abu Dhabi: October 18; 4th ODI, Sharjah: October 20; 5th ODI, Sharjah: October 23
T20 series schedule 1st T20, Abu Dhabi: October 26; 2nd T20, Abu Dhabi: October 27; 3rd T20, Lahore: October 29
Tickets Available at www.q-tickets.com
Stat Fourteen Fourteen of the past 15 Test matches in the UAE have been decided on the final day. Both of the previous two Tests at Dubai International Stadium have been settled in the last session. Pakistan won with less than an hour to go against West Indies last year. Against England in 2015, there were just three balls left.
Key battle - Azhar Ali v Rangana Herath Herath may not quite be as flash as Muttiah Muralitharan, his former spin-twin who ended his career by taking his 800th wicket with his final delivery in Tests. He still has a decent sense of an ending, though. He won the Abu Dhabi match for his side with 11 wickets, the last of which was his 400th in Tests. It was not the first time he has owned Pakistan, either. A quarter of all his Test victims have been Pakistani. If Pakistan are going to avoid a first ever series defeat in the UAE, Azhar, their senior batsman, needs to stand up and show the way to blunt Herath.
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Emergency phone numbers in the UAE
Estijaba – 8001717 – number to call to request coronavirus testing
Ministry of Health and Prevention – 80011111
Dubai Health Authority – 800342 – The number to book a free video or voice consultation with a doctor or connect to a local health centre
Emirates airline – 600555555
Etihad Airways – 600555666
Ambulance – 998
Knowledge and Human Development Authority – 8005432 ext. 4 for Covid-19 queries
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
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Some of Darwish's last words
"They see their tomorrows slipping out of their reach. And though it seems to them that everything outside this reality is heaven, yet they do not want to go to that heaven. They stay, because they are afflicted with hope." - Mahmoud Darwish, to attendees of the Palestine Festival of Literature, 2008
His life in brief: Born in a village near Galilee, he lived in exile for most of his life and started writing poetry after high school. He was arrested several times by Israel for what were deemed to be inciteful poems. Most of his work focused on the love and yearning for his homeland, and he was regarded the Palestinian poet of resistance. Over the course of his life, he published more than 30 poetry collections and books of prose, with his work translated into more than 20 languages. Many of his poems were set to music by Arab composers, most significantly Marcel Khalife. Darwish died on August 9, 2008 after undergoing heart surgery in the United States. He was later buried in Ramallah where a shrine was erected in his honour.
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Specs
Engine: 51.5kW electric motor
Range: 400km
Power: 134bhp
Torque: 175Nm
Price: From Dh98,800
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Business Insights
- Canada and Mexico are significant energy suppliers to the US, providing the majority of oil and natural gas imports
- The introduction of tariffs could hinder the US's clean energy initiatives by raising input costs for materials like nickel
- US domestic suppliers might benefit from higher prices, but overall oil consumption is expected to decrease due to elevated costs
Groom and Two Brides
Director: Elie Semaan
Starring: Abdullah Boushehri, Laila Abdallah, Lulwa Almulla
Rating: 3/5
The story of Edge
Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, established Edge in 2019.
It brought together 25 state-owned and independent companies specialising in weapons systems, cyber protection and electronic warfare.
Edge has an annual revenue of $5 billion and employs more than 12,000 people.
Some of the companies include Nimr, a maker of armoured vehicles, Caracal, which manufactures guns and ammunitions company, Lahab
