His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, toured Thursday the Dubai Airshow 2021 which featured 1,200 exhibitors over five days (14-18 November), more than 20 national pavilions, and an aircraft display of more than 160 commercial, military, and private jets.

Accompanied by His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs, Sheikh Mohamed toured the pavilions of a number of the participating national and foreign companies and exchanged conversations with their executives about their most prominent innovations and latest developments in the aviation industry.

His Highness’ tour of the exhibition’s outdoor areas included the stand of the UAE’s EDGE, an advanced technology group for defense and beyond, which displayed its wide range of aviation, defense and technology services to international industry leaders, Emirates news agency WAM reported.

Sheikh Mohamed also visited the Russian pavilion which displayed a model of the brand-new fifth-generation warplane Sukhoi Su-75 Checkmate. It was the first time the warplane, which was unveiled in July, had been seen outside of Russia.

The tour also included the UAE’s Calidus, which showcased a new ‘light attack’ turboprop at the Dubai Airshow 2021. His Highness’ tour also covered Embraer S.A., a Brazilian multinational aerospace manufacturer that produces commercial, military, executive and agricultural aircraft, in addition to providing air services.

His Highness also visited EDGE’s indoor pavilion and was briefed on the company’s latest drones, in addition to the stand of the Strategic Development Fund - the investment arm of Tawazun Holding - where he was briefed by Abdullah Nasser Al Jaabari, the Fund’s Chief Officer, on the VRT500 and the smaller VRT300, helicopter-type unmanned aircraft systems, developed by VR Technologies, a subsidiary of the Fund. His Highness was also briefed on the latest developments related to the company’s plant in Italy.

At the end of his tour, His Highness expressed his thanks and appreciation to the participants and exhibitors for their sincere efforts that contributed to the success of the global show, which continues to consolidate the position of the UAE and the confidence of the world in the country’s ability to manage the most prominent events. He wished the participants continued success in the upcoming editions of the event.

His Highness also toured several other pavilions on Tuesday. He also received Denis Manturov, Minister of Industry and Trade of the Russian Federation, and discussed with him ways of harnessing potential opportunities for expanding cooperation in economic, trade and advanced industries sectors within the framework of the joint strategic partnership. They also exchanged views an array of issues of mutual concern.

Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed was accompanied during this first tour by H.H. Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs, Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamad bin Tahnoun Al Nahyan, Chairman of Abu Dhabi Airports Company, Lt. General Hamad Mohammed Thani Al Rumaithi, Chief of Staff of the UAE Armed Forces, and Mohamed Mubarak Al Mazrouei, Undersecretary of the Crown Prince’s Court of Abu Dhabi.

On Sunday, His Highness received Florence Parly, Minister of the Armed Forces of the French Republic, at Al Shati Palace.

During their meeting, His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed and the Minister of the Armed Forces of the French Republic discussed friendship and ongoing joint cooperation and coordination between the two countries in military and defense affairs, which would contribute to enhancing joint work for the benefit of the two countries. They also exchanged views regarding a number of regional and international issues of mutual interest.

In attendance were Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamad bin Tahnoun Al Nahyan, Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Airports Board of Directors; Ali bin Hammad Al Shamsi, Deputy Secretary-General of the Supreme National Security Council, and Khaldoon Khalifa Al Mubarak, Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Executive Affairs Authority and member of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council, and Major General Staff Pilot Ibrahim Nasser Al Alawi, Commander of the UAE Air Force and Air Defense.

Also on the show’s opening day, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of UAE and Ruler of Dubai, received Defense Ministers of countries participating in the Dubai Airshow 2021. He also attended the reception.

Welcoming the official delegations taking part in the Airshow, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid said this year’s edition is taking place at a time where the aviation industry is regaining its growth momentum following a challenging period in the last two years. HH said the Airshow offers an exceptional opportunity to share path-breaking innovations and technologies and discuss new ideas that can shape the industry’s future.

The reception was also attended by H.H. Sheikh Mansoor bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum; Mohammed bin Ahmed Al Bowardi, Minister of State for Defense Affairs; and Lt. General Hamad Mohammed Thani Al Rumaithi, Chief of Staff of the UAE Armed Forces.

“We welcome delegations from over 140 countries attending this edition of the Dubai Airshow, which will help the global aviation industry chart a new course for itself in the post-pandemic phase. The event brings global aviation decision makers together to discuss fresh initiatives for the industry’s growth and development,” His Highness said.

His Highness, along with Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, and Algerian Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Aimene Benabderrahmane, attended aerobatic displays presented by five teams representing the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Russia, and India. Apart from the dignitaries, the aerobatic displays were also attended by a number of senior officials and military commanders of participating nations.

His Highness, accompanied by HH Sheikh Mansoor bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, later revisited the exhibition area of Dubai Airshow 2021 Wednesday. He was also accompanied by Major General Staff Pilot Ishaq Saleh Al Balushi, Executive Director of the Military Organizing Committee of the Dubai Airshow 2021. During his tour, HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed visited the stand of UAE company Tawazun’s subsidiary International Golden Group where he was briefed about its security and defense solutions.

His Highness also visited the stand of Korea Aerospace Industries Ltd. where he learned about its FA-50 plane, Surion multi-role utility helicopter, and its Light Attack Helicopter.

Another stop on His Highness’s tour was the stand of CAE, a Canadian simulator specialist, where he was briefed about its Bombardier Global 6500 full flight simulator. The advanced simulator will be available for training in 2023 at the Emirates-CAE Flight Training (ECFT) Centre in Dubai, where it has been deployed for the first time outside North America.

His Highness also visited the Bellwether Industries pavilion, where he learned about the Antelope, an urban vertical take-off and landing vehicle with hidden propellers as well as the Manta Aircraft ANN2, a two-seat model for personal air mobility.

At the outdoor exhibition area of Dubai Airshow, His Highness visited the stands of a number of Russian exhibitors, where he learned about Sukhoi, Irkut, and Aurus planes, including Irkut’s MC-21-310 airplane, and a multi-role utility helicopter, among others.

His Highness also visited the stand of the UAE Airspace Agency, where he was briefed about its latest programs and initiatives which are part of the ambitious UAE space program. He also visited the stand of UAE-based EDGE Group, one of the top 25 military suppliers in the world that develops disruptive defense solutions.

For his part, Mohammed bin Ahmed Al Bowardi, UAE Minister of State for Defense Affairs, visited Wednesday the Dubai Airshow 2021, accompanied by senior officers and officials from the Ministry.

During his tour, Al Bowardi visited the pavilions of several companies, starting with the stand of UAC which produces the Russina Sukhoi aircraft, and the Emirati company, Calidus, which manufactures aircraft and military equipment.

He also visited the pavilion of the Brazilian company, Embraer, which designs, develops and manufactures various types of aircraft and engines, and the American company, Lockheed-Martin, which designs and develops advanced technologies.

Al Bowardi then visited the pavilion of the Swedish company, Saab, which offers defense services and solutions, the pavilions of Canadian company CAE, in addition to Airbus, MBDA, and Raytheon which develops the latest e-devices and air defense systems.

At the end of the tour, Al Bowardi thanked members of the UAE’s Al Fursan Display Team for their live performances at the event.

On the opening day of the show, Al Bowardi received Florence Parly, French Armed Forces Minister, and Murat Bektanov, Kazakh Minister of Defense, in the presence of Matar Salem Al Dhaheri, Under-Secretary of the Ministry of Defense, and several senior officers and officials from the Ministry. The meetings took place in Al Bowardi’s office at Dubai Airshow 2021.

Al Bowardi welcomed the guests and discussed the friendship and cooperation between the UAE and their countries, most notably in the areas of defense and the military.

The two visiting Ministers stressed the keenness to strengthen their ties with the UAE, most notably in the areas of defense and the military, and lauded the organization of Dubai Airshow 2021, in spite of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Meantime, Lt. General Hamad Mohammed Thani Al Rumaithi, Chief of Staff of the UAE Armed Forces, separately received on the first day of the show, Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Lt. General Fayyad bin Hamid Al-Ruwaili, and Chairman of the South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff, Won In-choul. The meetings took place in Al Rumaith’s office at Dubai Airshow 2021.

During the meeting, Al Rumaithi discussed the friendship and cooperation between the UAE and their countries, most notably in the areas of defense and the military. They also exchanged views on the importance of organizing such exhibitions globally, especially the Dubai Airshow.

Furthermore, Major General Saeed Al Shehhi, Commander of the UAE Land Forces, received on the opening day of the show, Jed Royal, Deputy Director of the U.S. Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA). Both sides discussed their cooperation and exchanged views on several topics of mutual concern.

Lastly, His Highness Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, member of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council and Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Executive Office, visited the Dubai Airshow 2021 on its final day and witnessed the latest technologies in the defense industry, including state-of-the-art unmanned aerial vehicles.

During the tour, HH visited various national stands, including those of China and Russia, as well as UAE companies Edge Group and International Golden Group.