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19 March 2024

UAE a gateway between East and West: Mohammed

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum

Published
By WAM

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of UAE and Ruler of Dubai, said Abu Dhabi's International Defence Exhibition (Idex) is gaining prominence and wider acclaim among the world countries and companies producing weapons and defence equipments as the event provides them with a window, through which they look at the markets in the region.

The exhibition also represents a platform for the arms manufacturers to showcase their latest products and defence technologies in front of the governments in the region, who are in need of the defensive weapons, technologies and equipments to strengthen their armed forces to defend and protect their territories, independence and national wealth, Sheikh Mohammed added.

The following is the text of the message Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum gave on the occasion of Idex 2011.

"Idex 2011 in its 10th session will offer new electronic defense devices and sophisticated weapons, which may not have been showcased so far anywhere else in the world. This will allow the countries of the region, the Middle East and North Africa the opportunity to view these modern defense products and procure them through commercial transactions taking place in the exhibition every year.

"We in the UAE do not look at Idex or Dubai Airshow as two platforms for arms race in the region, as some claim, but see them purely in terms of trade, tourism and technology, because of the diversity in attendance and participation in these events, which have gained international fame and earned great confidence among the exhibitors and consumers. This makes the UAE a meeting place for people of different races and a gateway between East and West, not to mention the experience and knowledge which the men of our armed forces and our police gain through mixing with the experts who arrive from all over the world.

"Idex 2011, which will begin within a few days, is the twin event of the Dubai Airshow as they complete each other in the qualitative development and success, fame and reputation enjoyed by the two exhibitions on the international and regional levels.

"The continuity of Idex with this momentum, development and the volume of demand from countries, companies, factories and individuals demonstrate its success, strength and quality and positions itself as an event of economic and tourism importance as well as creates an opportunity for cross-cultural understanding. The visitors get a chance to see the cultural expressions of our country, its Arab and Islamic traditions and customs.

"We are confident that this year's show will see a large turnout and the increase in the proportion of exhibitors and visitors because it brings with it all that is new in the world of defense industries and military equipment.

Mohammed to open Idex today

Sheikh Mohammed will open today (Sunday) the International Defence Exhibition and Conference (Idex) and the Naval Defence Exhibition (Navdex) 2011 at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (Adnec), under the patronage of the President, His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

The opening ceremony will be attended by sheikhs, ministers, senior officials, in addition to 66 defence ministers and 64 chiefs of staf from around the world.

 

Mohammed attends Endurance Challenge

On Saturday, Sheikh Mohammed attended the Sheikh Rashid bin Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum Festival for Endurance Challenge.

The 120-kilometer race was competed by 115 riders and won by Ali Mohammed Al Muhairi from Seih Al Salam Stable.

Also present were Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai and UAE Finance Minister; Sheikh Tahnoun bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Chairman of the Presidential Flights and Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs.