IDEX 2027

About IDEX 2027

IDEX 2027 is a five-day defence and security exhibition covering land, air and maritime capability. The 17th edition runs from 25 to 29 January at ADNEC Centre Abu Dhabi. ADNEC Group organises the event in association with the United Arab Emirates Ministry of Defence and Tawazun Council, under the stated presidential patronage published by the organiser.

The core format is a large professional exhibition supported by talks, roundtables, demonstrations and specialist innovation areas. IDEX is co-located with NAVDEX, which focuses on naval defence and maritime security, while the International Defence Conference is a related programme with its own schedule. Startup and future-technology areas provide distinct routes for newer companies. The breadth of the event allows delegations to compare systems across domains, but it also means visitors should identify relevant halls, demonstrations and meetings before arrival. Registration is separated between visitors, exhibitors, delegations and media, with professional and security conditions set by the organiser. The official 2027 website currently states dates that supersede older listings. Exhibitor, speaker and product information remains time-sensitive and should never be carried over from the 2025 edition without current confirmation.

Event history and organisers

IDEX was first held in Abu Dhabi in 1993 and has developed as a biennial international defence exhibition. The 2027 event is the 17th edition. Its long-running identity combines the host emirate’s exhibition infrastructure with participation from governments, armed forces and defence companies. ADNEC Group is the organiser, while the Ministry of Defence and Tawazun Council are listed in association with the event. That relationship is more precise than treating all three bodies as interchangeable organisers. NAVDEX runs alongside IDEX as a dedicated naval and maritime exhibition, and the International Defence Conference adds strategic discussion. The 2025 edition provides recent lineage and illustrates the scale of the event, but its attendance, exhibitors and deals are historical facts rather than forecasts for 2027. Current official pages set the 25–29 January dates, venue and registration routes. Earlier ADNEC announcements containing different provisional dates should not override the live edition website.

Topics and themes

IDEX organises defence capability across operational domains while giving procurement teams a common place to compare technology and suppliers. The programme connects equipment with industrial and strategic relationships. IDEX connects these themes with evidence, delivery choices and the needs of its professional community.

• Land systems: protected mobility, weapons, soldier equipment, logistics and command technologies address operations across varied terrain and threat conditions.
• Aerospace: aircraft, air defence, sensors, unmanned systems and mission technologies support surveillance, protection and control of airspace.
• Maritime security: co-located NAVDEX covers vessels, coastal protection, naval systems and technologies for contested or strategically important waters.
• Cyber and autonomy: digital systems, artificial intelligence, robotics and secure networks increasingly shape capability across every physical domain.
• Procurement and partnerships: official delegations, manufacturers and national industry bodies use meetings to discuss requirements, localisation and long-term cooperation.

Who should attend?

IDEX is intended for defence ministries, armed forces, procurement agencies and official international delegations reviewing capability across land, air and maritime domains. Manufacturers, prime contractors and specialist suppliers can exhibit products, meet partners and follow relevant technology programmes. Cyber, autonomous-systems and dual-use startups may find dedicated innovation routes if they meet the published eligibility conditions. Investors, industrial-development bodies and localisation teams can use the event to examine partnerships and supply chains. Approved trade visitors and media follow separate registration processes. The exhibition is not presented as an unrestricted public airshow, and entry may require professional credentials, identification or approval. Space-sector participants should focus on aerospace, communications, sensing and related defence content rather than describe the entire tri-service event as a space conference.

Practical information

IDEX runs from 25 to 29 January at ADNEC Centre Abu Dhabi. The current edition website supersedes older listings that show different 2027 dates.

Confirm registration category, professional credentials, badge collection, hall access, demonstrations and meeting appointments. Exhibitors should follow current freight, stand and security instructions well before arrival. Confirm current access instructions and local travel arrangements before departure for IDEX.