Today's Edition
AMEINAH ALZEYOUDI (ABU DHABI)
Under the patronage of President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the International Defence Conference 2025 commenced at Emirates Palace in Abu Dhabi on Sunday.
Held alongside IDEX and NAVDEX, the conference brings together defence and security leaders, experts and companies from around the world to discuss key challenges and opportunities in this strategic sector.
His Excellency Mohammed bin Mubarak bin Fadel Al Mazrouei, Minister of State for Defence Affairs, inaugurated the conference, which is being held under the theme "Defence Reimagined: Innovation, Integration, and Resilience."
Organised by ADNEC Group in collaboration with the Ministry of Defence and the Tawazun Council, the event gathers senior leaders, officials, defence and security representatives, academia and industry stakeholders from the region and beyond.
Dr. Nasser Humaid Al Nuaimi, Secretary General of Tawazun Council, said: "IDEX and NAVDEX is a global platform for dialogue, collaboration and innovation in addressing the most pressing challenges facing the defence and security industry. Today, here in IDC and over the next few days in both ITECs and NADFs, we will explore solutions to build resiliency, enhance security and drive progress toward a safer and more sustainable future.
Lt. Col. Pilot Latifa Mohammed Alzaidi MOD told Aletihad: "The International Defence Conference 2025 sets the stage for both IDEX, the International Defence Exhibition, and NAVDEX, the Naval and Maritime and Security Exhibition 2025 and highlights the advancement of cutting-edge technologies and dual-purpose civil and military technologies in defence and their roles in trying to detect the threats and mitigate the risks accompanying these threats in order to provide global, international, regional, and in-country security in the defence and security sectors."
She added: "The innovation in the technological advancements of today's rapidly evolving world affect the defence and security sector immensely, where cutting edge technologies such as artificial intelligence and cyber security and also space capabilities play a vital and quintessential role in the military operations, not only in defence policies but also tackle the lowest level, as in tactical operations."
The conference features three key sessions, focusing on global disruptions and defence preparedness, mitigating threats to critical supply chains, and the role of misinformation and influence operations in modern conflicts.
Additionally, a dedicated session will explore the evolving space domain and its emerging threats and opportunities.
The event welcomes prominent international leaders, ministers and defence officials from various countries.
The International Defence Conference attracts high-profile global participation, bringing together distinguished figures from the defence, economic and technology sectors, as well as senior military commanders from around the world.
The conference will conclude with a dedicated session to present strategic recommendations shaping the framework for future defence programmes.
