The five-day 11th International Defense Exhibition (IDEX) ended Thursday and saw 55 deals worth 14 billion dirhams (3.8 billion U.S. dollars) sealed, slightly lower than the 4 billion dollars two years ago.

The biennial IDEX, the biggest defense fair in the Middle East and North Africa, hosted 1,112 exhibiting defense companies from 59 countries. It also hosted the second navy congress NADVEX with 15 boats on display, and the first platform for unmanned aerial vehicles, known as UAVs or drones. >>> More

A visitor tries a CARACAL gun made in UAE during the biennial International Defense Exhibition and Conference (IDEX) 2013 in Abu Dhabi, the United Arab Emirates, on Feb. 20, 2013. The IDEX 2013, which starts Sunday, doubled in size compared to 2011 and puts this year a special focus on naval defense and unmanned aerial systems. (Xinhua/An Jiang)

United Arab Emirates (UAE), host of the ongoing International Defense Exhibition and Conference ( IDEX), said Monday that it has so far sealed arms purchases worth 5.2 billion Dirham (1.42 billion U. S. dollars). >>>More

The United Arab Emirates (UAE), also presented for the first time the Nimr (Tiger), an indigenous military vehicle produced by stated-owned Tawazun Company.

Tawazun said the Nimr has the highest armored protection base for its soldiers and the UAE plans to export it to the world. >>>More

The Gulf Arab region's sole naval warship builder Abu Dhabi Ship Building (ADSB) said at the five-day International Defense Exhibition (IDEX) that it won the Kuwait Navy's future landing craft program without disclosing the price.

The program will last approximately 24 months and the construction is to start in mid-2013. >>>More

The International Defense Exhibition (IDEX) this year highlighted the use of green energy and recycling technology in manufacturing military products, as defense budgets worldwide are under pressure. >>>More

Despite global cuts in defense budgets, providers of military technology surveillance and attack drones witnessed a boom.

This year's IDEX, the biggest weapons show in the Middle East and one of the biggest worldwide, had for the first time set up a dedicated hall for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). >>>More

Despite the rise in unmanned aerial vehicles, military vehicles on the ground are still produced to carry an ample amount of military personnel. >>>More

Visitors visit unmanned aerial vehicle exhibition area during NAVDEX in Abu Dhabi, the United Arab Emirates, on Feb. 19, 2013. The biennial International Defense Exhibition and Conference (IDEX) 2013, which starts on Feb. 17, doubled in size compared to 2011 and puts this year a special focus on naval defense and unmanned aerial systems. This year's IDEX hosts NAVDEX, a special platform for the navy ships. (Xinhua/An Jiang)