UAE's Prominent Defense Presence at Marrakech Air Show
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is set to showcase its national pavilion at the Marrakech Air Show, which is scheduled to take place from October 7 to October 10, 2023, at the Royal Air Forces base in Marrakech. This initiative is organized under the auspices of the UAE Ministry of Defense and executed by the Abu Dhabi National Exhibitions Company (ADNEC Group), a subsidiary of Modon Group. The pavilion will feature four key defense industry players: EDGE Group, Generation 5 Holding, Multi Level Group (MLG), and Resource Industries, emphasizing innovations in defense systems, aerospace, and autonomous platforms. This collaboration not only includes these four companies but also integrates support from the Ministry of Defense and the Tawazun Council, which is dedicated to enhancing the national defense ecosystem and fostering international partnerships. Additionally, the event will be supported by the organizers of major exhibitions in Abu Dhabi, including IDEX for defense, UMEX, and SIMTEX for unmanned systems and simulation, as well as the military publications _Al Jundi Journal_ and _Nation Shield_. The Moroccan organizers, as announced by the Ministry of Industry and Commerce, aim to highlight high-tech defense systems, artificial intelligence, and satellite technologies, while promoting a robust national aerospace sector comprising over 150 companies. This stop in Morocco is part of the UAE pavilion's annual tour, which has previously visited Riyadh, Istanbul, Paris, and El-Alamein in Egypt, and will continue to the Bahrain Air Show.
Strategic Partnerships and Innovations on Display
EDGE Group returns to Marrakech two years after its first participation in 2024, during which it showcased guided weapons, autonomous systems, light arms, and non-lethal equipment. Hamad Al Marar, the CEO of EDGE, emphasized this return as the beginning of a long-term relationship with Morocco. This time, EDGE is bolstered by a partnership with the French aerospace and equipment manufacturer Safran, which has a longstanding presence in Morocco and is also expected to exhibit at the show. In June, at Eurosatory, both companies signed a strategic agreement in the aerospace and defense sectors and announced plans for two joint ventures—one based in the UAE and the other in France—focused on developing a next-generation guided weapon with enhanced range derived from the Hammer family. Additionally, Generation 5 Holding will present its recent military aviation contract at the show, having established an exclusive strategic partnership with Brazilian aerospace manufacturer Embraer for the C-390 Millennium military transport aircraft during a signing ceremony in Abu Dhabi. This deal includes an order for ten firm aircraft, along with ten options, marking the first selection of this aircraft model in the Middle East.
Resource Industries, another Emirati supplier of defense technologies, will showcase equipment for military vehicles and unmanned platforms, anti-drone systems, radars, optronics, and electronic warfare capabilities. Reports indicate that they held fourteen meetings with foreign representatives during just the third day of Eurosatory. MLG, focused on advanced technologies and autonomous systems, was previously featured at the Emirati pavilion during the El-Alamein show alongside EDGE and Generation 5. Furthermore, Saudi Arabia and the UAE are preparing high-level military delegations for this biennial event, which has been held under the patronage of King Mohammed VI since 2008. The United States Air Force has also announced plans for an aerial display over Marrakech and a ground exhibition featuring equipment from the National Guard, in coordination with the Moroccan government and the U.S. Embassy in Rabat.
As reported by barlamane.com.
