Organisers for the International Defence Exhibition and Conference (IDEX) and Naval Defence Exhibition (NAVDEX) met this week with diplomats from over 20 nations, including defence attachés from the United States, Russia, China, France, Canada and the United Kingdom.

The meeting served as a key opportunity to reinforce relationships with nations underpinning the event’s two decades of success and growth.

The diplomatic community will play a significant part in the coordination of international delegations and senior visitors to IDEX, NAVDEX and the Gulf Defence Conference, visiting ships to NAVDEX and the participation of national pavilions.

IDEX 2011 saw over 1,060 visitors representing 52 countries, including 400 official delegates and 32 national pavilions.

Organised by the Abu Dhabi National Exhibitions Company in coordination with the UAE Armed Forces GHQ and Headline Sponsor Tawazun, IDEX will take place  at Abu Dhabi’s National Exhibition Centre from 17-21 February, 2013.

First held in 1993, IDEX (International Defence Exhibition & Conference) is the largest joint defence exhibition in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. IDEX takes place biennially under the patronage of HH Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, and is organised by ADNEC (Abu Dhabi National Exhibitions Company) in association with the UAE Armed Forces GHQ. IDEX, the only international defence and maritime security exhibition in the MENA region, demonstrates the latest technology across land, sea and air sectors of defence. It is a unique platform to establish and strengthen relationships with government departments, businesses and armed forces and in 2011 attracted 1,060 exhibiting companies from 52 countries and over 60,000 attendees.