SARA ALZAABI (ABU DHABI)
Under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Chairman of the Presidential Court for Special Affairs, and Chairman of the Smart and Autonomous Systems Council, the International Defence Conference (IDC) 2026 commenced in Abu Dhabi on Monday in the presence of Lieutenant General Ibrahim Nasser Al Alawi, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Defence at the ADNEC Centre Abu Dhabi.
IDC, held under the theme "Smart Horizons: Redefining Defence Through Intelligent Autonomy," was organised by the ADNEC Group in association with the Ministry of Defence and Tawazun Council for Defence Enablement.
The event brought together defence and security leaders as well as industry experts and innovators to address the challenges and opportunities shaping the future of the defence sector.
In his inaugural address, Major General Mubarak Saeed Aljaberi, Assistant Minister of State for Digital Transformation, Technology and Artificial Intelligence, highlighted how intelligent autonomous technology is reshaping defence, transportation, energy, healthcare, smart cities, and beyond.
Aljaberi added that the UAE's National Strategy for Artificial Intelligence is now in full execution, and that they recognise AI and autonomous systems as critical in the 21st century.
He emphasised that intelligent autonomy demands intelligent integration across three dimensions.
"Firstly, technological and data innovation is already taking shape with the development of counter-drone solutions on locally manufactured vehicles equipped with autonomous aircraft, which protect our operators in the field. The Navy is also operating unmanned surveillance assets to enhance coastal security.
The second dimension is partnership innovation. "Breakthroughs are built with global industrial partners, academia, and start-ups. Our defence capabilities will be strengthened through innovation networks, not isolated programmes. We must build local and global partnerships to accelerate manufacturing, development, and advanced, cutting-edge AI-enabled military operations," he said.
"The third dimension is process innovation, which is critical, as autonomous systems are evolving in months, not decades. Process innovation means rapid acquisition, ensuring that new technology is seamlessly integrated with existing command and control systems," Aljaberi continued.
Concluding his address, Aljaberi said, "The men and women of our armed forces bring context, moral clarity, and accountability to our AI military operations. This year marks the 50th anniversary of the unification of the armed forces - a moment to look forward with purpose. Over five decades, our strength has always been our people: their courage, commitment, and unity. As we embark on the next 50 years of the armed forces' journey, our use of AI in defence will continue to reflect our values and our humanity as a nation."
This year's theme explored how emerging technologies are reshaping societies, transforming defence ecosystems and influencing the global security landscape.
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Speaking to Aletihad on the sidelines of the event, Maj Pilot Dhaif Salem Alnuaimi, spokesperson for the Ministry of Defence, said the 2026 edition of IDC brings together a distinguished gathering of defence leaders, policymakers, and experts from around the world.
"The conference serves as a premier global platform, spotlighting the latest advancements shaping the future of unmanned systems through three dedicated sessions, highlighting the defence and commercial applications of autonomous technologies."
The first session addressed the future of command networks and defence systems. The second delved into the integration of AI into joint and tactical operations, while the third focused on global autonomy standards, building trust and safety, and enhancing operational readiness.
"The conference welcomed over 700 participants from all over the world. By driving integration between defence innovation, commercial applications, and digital technologies, IDC 2026 accelerates convergence across these critical sectors and advances regulatory, technological, and legislative frameworks," Alnuaimi said.
IDC took place ahead of the seventh and largest edition of the Unmanned Systems Exhibition (UMEX) and Simulation and Training Exhibition (SimTEX), taking place from January 20 to 22, 2026.
Rahma Almashjari, ADNEC Group spokesperson for UMEX and SimTEX 2026, told Aletihad, "The exhibitions constitute a leading global platform for showcasing the latest innovations in unmanned systems, artificial intelligence, simulation, training, and future technologies with a growing impact on the civil, commercial, and defence sectors."