Idex 2021: Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed tours Abu Dhabi event as day two gets under way

The Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi was on hand for the start of the second day of the high-profile exhibition

Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed tours Idex on Monday. The National

Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, toured Abu Dhabi's International Defence Exhibition on Monday.

Sheikh Mohamed, also Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, visited the sprawling Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre at the start of the second day of the week-long event.

The high-profile defence exhibition is the largest in the region and showcases the latest in military technologies and hardware.

"During a visit to Idex 2021 today, I was briefed on the latest national defence systems and technologies. I am very proud of the strength of the UAE defence industry and how it is progressing," he said on Monday.

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  Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, tours the International Defence Exhibition and Conference, held at Adnec. On the right is Faisal Al Bannai, chief executive and managing director of Edge. Mopa

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  Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, tours the International Defence Exhibition and Conference, held at Adnec. To his right is Faisal Al Bannai, chief executive and managing director of Edge. Mopa

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  Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, tours the International Defence Exhibition and Conference, held at Adnec. Mopa

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  Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, tours the International Defence Exhibition and Conference, held at Adnec. To his right is Faisal Al Bannai, chief executive and managing director of Edge. Mopa

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  Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, tours the International Defence Exhibition and Conference, held at Adnec. To his right is Faisal Al Bannai, chief executive and managing director of Edge. Mopa

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  Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, tours the International Defence Exhibition and Conference, held at Adnec. To his left is Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, UAE Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs. Mopa

Sheikh Mohamed met a number of top military officials while attending the opening day on Sunday.

He spoke with representatives from the UK, Greece, Russia and Ethiopia, and discussed ways to bolster ties and increase defence and military co-operation.

"Idex is an important defence platform shaping the global defence industry and also helping to forge new partnerships between countries," Sheikh Mohamed said after his meetings.

Organisers have taken steps to ensure the major gathering is held safely amid the Covid-19 pandemic.

Saeed Al Mansoori, director of Idex, has been working 14-hour days, seven days a week, to overcome the unique challenges posed by holding such an event while prioritising the health of delegates.

The exhibition runs until Thursday, February 25.

Strict measures are in place across 35,000 square metres of exhibition space running through the 12 exhibition halls. International attendees do not have to follow the mandatory 10-day quarantine in place in Abu Dhabi but all those attending have to take several PCR tests, including one every 48 hours to access the event.

Daily tests for attendees are available in 19 hotels in the Adnec area.