TSAMTO, February 24. The UAE Armed Forces signed contracts worth more than 654.6 million dirhams (about $177 million) on the opening day of the 5th UMEX-2022 Unmanned Systems Exhibition in Abu Dhabi and the Simulation and Training Exhibition (SimTEX).
At the same time, agreements were concluded with national companies in the amount of 649 million dirhams, and with foreign companies in the amount of about 5.59 million dirhams. The volume of sales on the opening day of the event exceeded the total value of contracts concluded during the first two days of the previous exhibition held in 2020.
In particular, according to Khaleej Times, a large agreement worth 639 million dirhams for the provision of maintenance and support services, repair and supply of spare parts was concluded by the UAE armed forces with the Emirati company Global Aerospace Logistics. A contract worth 10 million dirhams has been signed with the Abu Dhabi-based International Golden Group for the supply of unmanned aerial vehicles, and a deal worth 5,597 million dirhams with South African Denel Dynamics provides for the provision of technical support services for aviation systems.
UMEX is the only event in the Middle East dedicated to remotely controlled/robotic systems and their components. The exhibition is held at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Center in cooperation with the UAE Ministry of Defense.
Answering a question from journalists about the increase in the budget of the UAE armed forces, the official representative of the exhibition, Colonel Abdulnasir Mohamed Al Hameedi, said that this is also due to the growing needs for unmanned systems and increased requirements for them. Thus, purchases are likely to increase at the next exhibition as well.
Lieutenant Colonel Salem Mohammed Al Blooshi, in turn, drew attention to the fact that the signed deals demonstrate the interest of large companies in full-time participation in events in the UAE. This proves that the country has coped with the COVID pandemic and is ready to hold such events.
134 exhibitors from 26 countries are taking part in the three-day exhibition, seven countries are participating for the first time.
