Idex 2021: Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed meets foreign military officials

Representatives from the UK, Greece, Russia and Ethiopia attend first day of the International Defence Exhibition

Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, meets Nikolaos Panagiotopoulos, Defence Minister of Greece, at Idex. Courtesy: Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Twitter

Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed meets Edward Lister, the British Prime Minister's special envoy for the Gulf, and Air Marshal Martin Sampson, defence senior military Adviser to the Middle East and North Africa at the British Ministry of Defence, at Idex. Courtesy: Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Twitter

Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed meets Gen Birhanu Jula, chief of General Staff of Ethiopian National Defence Force, at Idex. Courtesy: Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Twitter

Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed meets Denis Manturov, Minister of Industry and Trade of the Russian Federation, at Idex. Courtesy: Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Twitter

Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs, and Khaldoon Mubarak, chairman of the Executive Affairs Authority and chief executive of Mubadala Investment Company, attend a meeting at Idex. Courtesy: Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Twitter

Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed tours the 2021 International Defence Exhibition and Conference at Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre. Seen with Ramzan Kadyrov, President of Chechnya. Hamad Al Kaabi / Ministry of Presidential Affairs

Dignitaries stand during the UAE national anthem, during the opening ceremony of Idex at Adnec. Saleh Al Saeari / Ministry of Presidential Affairs

Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed stands during the UAE national anthem, during the opening ceremony for Idex. Seen with Ramzan Kadyrov President of Chechnya. Mohamed Al Hammadi / Ministry of Presidential Affairs

Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed attends the opening ceremony of Idex. Hamad Al Kaabi / Ministry of Presidential Affairs

Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, met a number of top military officials while attending the first day of the International Defence Exhibition on Sunday.

Sheikh Mohamed met representatives from the UK, Greece, Russia and Ethiopia, and discussed ways to bolster ties between their countries and increase defence and military co-operation.

They spoke of Idex's importance in building regional and international defence partnerships and showcasing the latest defence technology, systems and services.

"It is a pleasure to announce the start of Idex 2021. Idex is an important defence platform shaping the global defence industry and also helping to forge new partnerships between countries," Sheikh Mohamed said.

Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs, and a number of senior UAE officials attended the meetings.

The first day of the five-day exhibition, held at Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre, was deemed a success after the UAE Armed Forces awarded Dh5.03 billion ($1.37bn) in contracts.

The majority of the 19 deals signed by the Armed Forces went to local companies – who won contracts worth Dh3.9 billion ($1.06) – while seven contracts worth Dh1.1bn were awarded to international companies, Staff Brig Gen Mohammed Al Hassani, official spokesman for Idex and its sister event the Naval Defence and Maritime Security Exhibition, said.

With about 1,000 companies represented, Idex is the largest defence exhibition in the region and showcases the latest in military hardware.

It is also the first major in-person event to be held in Abu Dhabi since the pandemic broke out.

Rigorous safety measures are in place to prevent the spread of Covid-19.

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Idex 2021: day one in pictures

Charles Dufour of Cebair, with the Chimera, an anti-drone system. Victor Besa / The National

Idex 2021, the first major in-person exhibition held in Abu Dhabi since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, opened its doors on Sunday morning. Victor Besa / The National

Abdulelah Al Mohaimeed, of Wahaj of Saudi Arabia, shows his company's 50-calibre heavy machine gun, at Idex 2021 in Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National

Saeed Al Mansoori examines a Glock 9mm pistol at at Idex 2021. The event features up to 1,000 defence companies. Victor Besa / The National

A model of the NHIndustries NH90 multi-role military helicopter on display at Idex 2021. Victor Besa / The National

Visitors view a Desert Sting-16 missile, built by UAE defence conglomerate EDGE, at Idex 2021. About 15 per cent of the 1,000 companies represented at event are Emirati. Victor Besa / The National

Idex 2021 is the first major in-person exhibition in Abu Dhabi since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic. International attendees do not need to quarantine, but must undertake regular PCR tests. Victor Besa / The National

Strict anti-coronavirus measures are in place at Idex 2021, including reminders for visitors to adhere to social distancing. Victor Besa / The National

A robot mops the floor as visitors explore the 35,000 square metres of exhibition space at Idex 2021. Victor Besa / The National

Omar Al Matrooshi and Rashed Al Raess hold 9mm pistols made by Austrian manufacturer Glock. About 800 international companies are attending Idex 2021. Victor Besa / The National

Omar Al Matrooshi and Rashed Al Raess examine Glock 9mm pistols at Idex 2021. There are 12 exhibition halls at the event. Victor Besa / The National

Visitors examine sniper rifles made by UAE arms manufacturer Caracal, at Idex 2021. Victor Besa / The National

A close-up view of a 100-kilogram laser/satellite guided bomb at Idex 2021. Victor Besa / The National

Organisers expect 70,000 visitors to attend Idex 2021. Victor Besa / The National

Visitors adhere to strict social distancing at Adex 2021, the first major in-person exhibition in Abu Dhabi since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic. Victor Besa / The National.

A visitor arrives at Idex 2021. Victor Besa / The National.

Visitors attending Idex 2021 in Abu Dhabi. The biennial event was first held in 1993. Victor Besa / The National

Strict social distancing measures are being implemented at Idex 2021. Victor Besa / The National

Exhibitors at Idex 2021 range from the manufacturers of armoured vehicles to cybersecurity companies. Victor Besa / The National

The total value of deals the UAE is expected to sign this year is likely to be similar to the levels of 2019, organisers have said. Rashed Al Mansoori / Ministry of Presidential Affairs

Sheikh Hamed bin Zayed, Member of Abu Dhabi Executive Council. The UAE Armed Forces awarded Dh5.03 billion in contracts on the first day of Idex, with the lion’s share of the deals going to local companies. Rashed Al Mansoori / Ministry of Presidential Affairs

Sheikh Hamed bin Zayed, Member of Abu Dhabi Executive Council. Participants at this year's Idex are focusing on cyber security, autonomous weapons, and using advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence in defence applications and safe-guarding supply chains during the global health crisis. Rashed Al Mansoori / Ministry of Presidential Affairs