Eight countries sent their warships to NAVDEX 2025, the Naval Defence Exhibition and Conference held at ADNEC Marina in Abu Dhabi from February 17 to 21. The event was jointly organised by ADNEC Group, the UAE Ministry of Defence, and the Tawazun Council, and received direct patronage from President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
A Record-Breaking Naval Showcase
The 8th edition of NAVDEX brought together naval fleets from Bahrain, Oman, the United Kingdom, Pakistan, Greece, South Korea, and India alongside the UAE, with a total of 21 warships on display — including newly built vessels from the UAE Armed Forces highlighting local defence technologies.
Commodore Rashed Ibrahim Rashed Al-Muhaisni of the NAVDEX Maritime Committee called this edition "the biggest and most prestigious in its history," pointing to both the number of vessels and the breadth of international participation.
IDEX and NAVDEX Join Forces
NAVDEX 2025 ran alongside the 17th edition of IDEX, the International Defence Exhibition and Conference. Together the twin events attracted 1,565 defence and security companies from 65 countries — a 16% increase over the 2023 edition — and expanded the exhibition floor to 181,501 square metres with a newly added 14th hall.
Total visitor numbers reached 206,073, a more than 55.5% increase over the previous edition, reflecting Abu Dhabi's growing stature as a global defence hub.
Live Demonstrations and Strategic Discussions
Visitors experienced live naval demonstrations at both ADNEC Marina and Mina Zayed, showcasing vessels from different size categories in action. The NAVDEX Talks platform brought together industry experts for panel discussions on emerging maritime defence technologies, shipbuilding advances, and real-world maritime security case studies.
Saeed Al Mansoori, Defence Events Advisor at ADNEC Group, noted that the expanded exhibition areas and increased worldwide participation position Abu Dhabi as a premier destination for global defence partnerships.
Deals and Future Editions
The Tawazun Council announced 55 signed deals with a combined value of AED 25.15 billion during IDEX and NAVDEX 2025 — a 10% increase over the 2023 edition. With 70% of exhibition space for the next edition already pre-booked, IDEX and NAVDEX 2027 are scheduled for 25 to 29 January 2027.
