Faisal Al Bannai, chief executive of Edge. The company will collaborate with Israel to develop an advanced counter unmanned aircraft system. Saher Mousa / Edge
Faisal Al Bannai, chief executive of Edge. The company will collaborate with Israel to develop an advanced counter unmanned aircraft system. Saher Mousa / Edge
Faisal Al Bannai, chief executive of Edge. The company will collaborate with Israel to develop an advanced counter unmanned aircraft system. Saher Mousa / Edge
Faisal Al Bannai, chief executive of Edge. The company will collaborate with Israel to develop an advanced counter unmanned aircraft system. Saher Mousa / Edge

Idex 2021: UAE's Edge eyes 15% revenue growth in 2021 and new export markets, CEO says


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UAE defence conglomerate Edge plans to boost revenue by more than 15 per cent this year with a fresh product line-up and expansion into new export markets, its chief executive said.

The company, which recorded sales of $5 billion last year, will target markets in Asia, Africa, Eastern Europe and south America, Faisal al-Bannai, Edge group chief executive and managing director, told The National on Thursday.

A product mix including missile technology and loitering ammunition will help drive its revenue targets in 2021.
"Between 2021 and 2023, we see healthy growth due to a line-up of products that we've announced," Mr Al Bannai said on the sidelines of the International Defence Exhibition and Conference (Idex). "We're going to have healthy growth of above 15 per cent in 2021."

Abu Dhabi-based Edge, through its Halcon unit, will supply the UAE's first locally manufactured air defence missile system to Germany's Rheinmetall. The move is part of a push by the Gulf country to develop a domestic defence industry to produce military equipment locally, reduce reliance on imports and create jobs.

Edge's electronic warfare products – such as a jammer for improvised explosive devices and GPS spoofers – will be a major driver of sales growth this year, Mr Al Bannai said. The company is also marketing upgraded armoured vehicles by its Nimr unit while new boats by its subsidiary Abu Dhabi Ship Building can cater to countries with large coastal areas to protect, he said.

Edge specialises in building advanced technology for weapons systems, cyber protection and electronic warfare with the 25 companies under its umbrella. This includes developing drones, UAVs and smart defence equipment.

Its advanced technologies "can compete very strongly with players that are out there in the market," he said.

In 2021 and 2022, Edge aims to expand its presence in international markets.

"Our core today is serving our armed forces but we’ve been engaging with various markets and clients that are buying some of our solutions," Mr Al Bannai said. "During this year and the next year we will be expanding our footprint."

To that end, Edge is "focused on parts of Asia, we are focused on various parts of Africa and Eastern Europe countries – and there is a big opportunity there – and some opportunities in south America."

Small arms maker Caracal, part of the Edge group, already exports its products to Indonesia, India and South Korea with plans for new global markets.

Following the normalisation of ties between the UAE and Israel last year through the Abraham Accords, Edge is in talks to explore opportunities in advanced technologies with the country.

"We have various discussions with companies in Israel ... and we have a number of cooperations with them and at the right time we will make few announcements in this regard," he said.

Edge also expects to be part of the supply chain for Lockheed Martin's F-35 military jets when the US sale of the planes to the UAE is completed.

"Whether the F-35 or any other deals happen, I am sure as the key local industry, we will be involved in various parts of the ecosystem," Mr Al Bannai said.

The UAE ambassador to Washington Yousef Al Otaiba said earlier he is confident the sale of F-35 jets would go through after a review by President Joe Biden's administration of some pending arms sales to US allies.

Asked if there are any plans to float the company, Mr Al Bannai said Edge is not focused on an initial public offering (IPO).

"The focus is to build the right capability and build our sovereignty in the country and build a company that can compete at the international stage," he said.

For its pipeline for new products, Edge will continue to expand its portfolio of products in the categories of electronic warfare, missiles and autonomous capabilities, he said.

The conglomerate has plans for drone manufacturing platforms and has ambitions beyond local production of parts.

"As Edge, we are not in the business of assembly of other people’s products. We are not in the 'just let’s put parts together and be a back office warehouse'. We are our own OEM and that means we are developing our products for our solutions," Mr Al Bannai said. "We can team up with someone where we integrate our products and their products but definitely we are not in the assembly of other people’s products. That is in my mind a lower category of provider in that regard."

To achieve these ambitions as a manufacturer, Edge says it is well-positioned to attract highly-skilled talent thanks to its investments in technology, a roadmap for growth, openness to ideas "pushing the limit in advanced technology" and being in a country that has the infrastructure to attract expats, he said.

Key facilities
  • Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
  • Premier League-standard football pitch
  • 400m Olympic running track
  • NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
  • 600-seat auditorium
  • Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
  • An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
  • Specialist robotics and science laboratories
  • AR and VR-enabled learning centres
  • Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
The distance learning plan

Spring break will be from March 8 - 19

Public school pupils will undergo distance learning from March 22 - April 2. School hours will be 8.30am to 1.30pm

Staff will be trained in distance learning programmes from March 15 - 19

Teaching hours will be 8am to 2pm during distance learning

Pupils will return to school for normal lessons from April 5

UAE'S%20YOUNG%20GUNS
%3Cp%3E1%20Esha%20Oza%2C%20age%2026%2C%2079%20matches%0D%3Cbr%3E%0D%3Cbr%3E2%20Theertha%20Satish%2C%20age%2020%2C%2066%20matches%0D%3Cbr%3E%0D%3Cbr%3E3%20Khushi%20Sharma%2C%20age%2021%2C%2065%20matches%0D%3Cbr%3E%0D%3Cbr%3E4%20Kavisha%20Kumari%2C%20age%2021%2C%2079%20matches%0D%3Cbr%3E%0D%3Cbr%3E5%20Heena%20Hotchandani%2C%20age%2023%2C%2016%20matches%0D%3Cbr%3E%0D%3Cbr%3E6%20Rinitha%20Rajith%2C%20age%2018%2C%2034%20matches%0D%3Cbr%3E%0D%3Cbr%3E7%20Samaira%20Dharnidharka%2C%20age%2017%2C%2053%20matches%0D%3Cbr%3E%0D%3Cbr%3E8%20Vaishnave%20Mahesh%2C%20age%2017%2C%2068%20matches%0D%3Cbr%3E%0D%3Cbr%3E9%20Lavanya%20Keny%2C%20age%2017%2C%2033%20matches%0D%3Cbr%3E%0D%3Cbr%3E10%20Siya%20Gokhale%2C%20age%2018%2C%2033%20matches%0D%3Cbr%3E%0D%3Cbr%3E11%20Indhuja%20Nandakumar%2C%20age%2018%2C%2046%20matches%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
What it means to be a conservationist

Who is Enric Sala?

Enric Sala is an expert on marine conservation and is currently the National Geographic Society's Explorer-in-Residence. His love of the sea started with his childhood in Spain, inspired by the example of the legendary diver Jacques Cousteau. He has been a university professor of Oceanography in the US, as well as working at the Spanish National Council for Scientific Research and is a member of the World Economic Forum’s Global Future Council on Biodiversity and the Bio-Economy. He has dedicated his life to protecting life in the oceans. Enric describes himself as a flexitarian who only eats meat occasionally.

What is biodiversity?

According to the United Nations Environment Programme, all life on earth – including in its forests and oceans – forms a “rich tapestry of interconnecting and interdependent forces”. Biodiversity on earth today is the product of four billion years of evolution and consists of many millions of distinct biological species. The term ‘biodiversity’ is relatively new, popularised since the 1980s and coinciding with an understanding of the growing threats to the natural world including habitat loss, pollution and climate change. The loss of biodiversity itself is dangerous because it contributes to clean, consistent water flows, food security, protection from floods and storms and a stable climate. The natural world can be an ally in combating global climate change but to do so it must be protected. Nations are working to achieve this, including setting targets to be reached by 2020 for the protection of the natural state of 17 per cent of the land and 10 per cent of the oceans. However, these are well short of what is needed, according to experts, with half the land needed to be in a natural state to help avert disaster.

The burning issue

The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE. 

Read part four: an affection for classic cars lives on

Read part three: the age of the electric vehicle begins

Read part one: how cars came to the UAE

 

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
MOUNTAINHEAD REVIEW

Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman

Director: Jesse Armstrong

Rating: 3.5/5

Company profile

Date started: January, 2014

Founders: Mike Dawson, Varuna Singh, and Benita Rowe

Based: Dubai

Sector: Education technology

Size: Five employees

Investment: $100,000 from the ExpoLive Innovation Grant programme in 2018 and an initial $30,000 pre-seed investment from the Turn8 Accelerator in 2014. Most of the projects are government funded.

Partners/incubators: Turn8 Accelerator; In5 Innovation Centre; Expo Live Innovation Impact Grant Programme; Dubai Future Accelerators; FHI 360; VSO and Consult and Coach for a Cause (C3)

UAE v United States, T20 International Series

Both matches at ICC Academy, Dubai. Admission is free.

1st match: Friday, 2pm

2nd match: Saturday, 2pm

UAE squad: Mohammed Naveed (captain), Rohan Mustafa, Ashfaq Ahmed, Shaiman Anwar, Rameez Shahzad, Amjad Gul, CP Rizwan, Mohammed Boota, Abdul Shakoor, Ahmed Raza, Imran Haider, Sultan Ahmed, Zahoor Khan, Amir Hayat

USA squad: Saurabh Netravalkar (captain), Jaskaran Malhotra, Elmore Hutchinson, Aaron Jones, Nosthush Kenjige, Ali Khan, Jannisar Khan, Xavier Marshall, Monank Patel, Timil Patel, Roy Silva, Jessy Singh, Steven Taylor, Hayden Walsh