• Home
• /
• Business

IDEX Concludes with Deals Worth Dh 18.4 Billion

The day’s orders boosted the total value of business done by country’s armed forces at the five-day show to Dh18.4 billion ($4.99 billion) – an amount dwarfing the value of contracts signed the last time the show was held in February 2007. At that earlier show, the UAE military bought a relatively modest Dh1.40 billion ($380 million) 
in equipment.

Moreover, the total value of this year’s deals is understated because it does not include the purchase of 48 advanced training aircraft from Arlina Aeromacchi of Italy, as the details of this contract, announced on Wednesday, were still being determined, officials said.

The show’s organisers did not give the details of any contracts signed by other countries this time at IDEX. At the last show, two years ago, the total value of business signed including purchases by foreign buyers equalled 
$545 million.

Among Thursday’s orders were eight 120mm mortars worth Dh205 million from Patria of Finland, said IDEX spokesman Staff Major General Obaid Al Ketbi. American company HSI bagged a deal worth Dh184 million to provide technical support and training upgrade for Black Hawk helicopters.

The armed forces also bought 12 patrol boats valued at Dh152 million from Abu Dhabi Ship Building Company.

Thales, of France, sealed two contracts for communications equipment worth a combined Dh154 million. A local company, Scientific Technology, will supply fire-fighting systems in special operations command camps, a deal worth Dh167 million, al Ketbi said.

In addition, he said, the UAE military plans to sign a Dh430 million contract with the Italian company Fincantieri for one anti-submarine warfare ship and technical support for it. The armed forces also expect to sign a deal worth Dh275 million Zayed University to train military cadets.

Al Ketbi dismissed any suggestion that all these large purchases could lead to an arms race in the region. The UAE is only executing a strategic plan to upgrade and modernise its defence 
forces, he said.

He noted that many of the contracts are with local firms, in a sign of the priority the country’s rulers place on supporting the UAE’s own 
defence industry.

IDEX, the biggest defense industry exhibition in the Middle East, was held under the patronage of His Highness Shaikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE and Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces. More than 50,000 people visited the show, which included 897 exhibitors from 50 countries and received 150 official delegations.

IDEX is planned again for February 2011.

ramavarman@khaleejtimes.ae