IDEX 2027 runs 25-29 January at ADNEC Centre Abu Dhabi. It is the International Defence Exhibition and Conference, held every two years and co-located with NAVDEX, the Naval Defence & Maritime Security Exhibition. The organiser reports that the 2025 edition drew 206,000 visitors and 1,565 brands and exhibitors from 65 countries, across 181,000 sqm.
About IDEX
IDEX 2027 is the 17th edition, according to the organiser. It is held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, and is organised by Capital Events in association with the Ministry of Defence. The organiser’s site also lists ADNEC Group as organiser and Tawazun Council as in association, with EDGE Group as strategic partner. It describes IDEX as the only international tri-service defence exhibition in the MENA region, covering land, air and sea.
The organiser’s programme includes the International Defence Conference (IDC), IDEX NXT, IDEX & NAVDEX Talks, the CBRNE Hub and the Innovation Trail. For exhibitors it lists interactive exhibits, live demonstrations and technology showcases, alongside networking with OEMs, defence contractors and procurement specialists. It describes IDEX NXT as an integrated environment connecting technology leaders, innovators and future defence concepts, and the Innovation Trail as a showcase of innovative products. The show is held at ADNEC Centre, which the organiser describes as one of the Middle East’s largest exhibition and conference venues.
What’s on the show floor
The organiser groups the show into four areas: naval, aerospace, land and CBRNE. Naval covers maritime solutions, aerospace covers airspace security technologies, land covers land defence systems, and CBRNE covers detection, protection and response for chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear and explosive threats. NAVDEX adds the naval defence and maritime security exhibition alongside IDEX.
Who attends IDEX
The organiser describes attendees as government officials, military leaders, industry experts and key decision-makers, including defence leaders, procurement stakeholders, OEMs, prime contractors and international delegations. It says exhibitors engage with officials and industry leaders from over 65 countries.
IDEX 2027 partners and sponsors
Partners and sponsors listed by the organiser for 2027 include EDGE Group as strategic partner, TAG Dynamics as premium partner, Calidus LLC as associate partner, Resource Industries as category sponsor and LIG Defense & Aerospace as silver sponsor.
Building your stand for IDEX 2027
Stand space booking goes through the organiser at idexuae.ae. Once your space is confirmed, the stand build is where most of the design and budget decisions land. Stands showing large hardware need floor loading and access planned early, plus closed meeting rooms for delegation talks. New Royal Advertising, a custom exhibition stand builder based in Dubai and approved at ADNEC, builds custom stands for IDEX exhibitors in Abu Dhabi with everything done 100% in-house, no subcontractors, free 3D design included with every quote, and a 120-second instant quote on our site.
Also exhibiting in Safety and Defence: World Police Summit, Intersec Exhibition and OS+H Middle East. See the full Safety and Defence exhibition calendar →
Call +971 56 422 0364 or get a quote online to start your IDEX 2027 stand build.
