Boeing shows off model displays of their military equipment to a delegation from Saudi Arabia at the Dubai Airshow 2021 on November 14, 2021 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. (Photo by Andrea DiCenzo/Getty Images)
BEIRUT — The Dubai Airshow is set to take place next week in the United Arab Emirates at a particularly perilous time, amid violent conflicts in the Middle East and Europe, and as the US and China warily eye each other in long-term “competition” in the Pacific.
And though the airshow is both a civilian and defense exposition, the tense geopolitical environment has pushed firms from some key countries to show up in force, while others are scaling back their participation — if they’re coming at all.
Whether companies from the US or any of the other dozens of countries planning to attend will remain comfortable in the final days before the show remain to be seen. But it’s clear the organizers in Dubai are hoping the event goes off without a hitch.
The show, they said in a press release Wednesday, “promises to be a game-changer, driving transformative change across the aerospace and defence industries.”
Of course it’s possible participation figures will change before the show starts on Nov. 13; the following is based on the latest available information as of this report.
Israel And The UAE
The show will be taking place in Dubai, less than 1,300 miles from the intense fighting between Israel and Hamas in Gaza — a conflict that has thrown Israel’s growing ties with some Arab nations in doubt (though publicly, less so in the UAE.) Still, at least four Israeli firms are planning to attend.
That’s far less than Israeli participation in IDEX 2023, which took place in Abu Dhabi, but will include big name companies like aerospace giant Israeli Aerospace Industries and Iron Dome-maker Rafael.
RELATED: Dozens of Israeli defense firms eye ‘really eager’ Gulf customers at IDEX 2023
Perhaps unsurprisingly, firms from host nation the UAE will be out in force, with more than 100 signed up as exhibitors. Foremost among them, the EDGE Group defense conglomerate — which itself is made up of more than 25 firms — is expected to take center stage, not only as the official defense technology partner but also as the major developer of defense platforms in the country.
The company said over 60 systems and platforms will be exhibited either at the EDGE booth or in larger static displays outside, from autonomous systems to smart weapons to electronic warfare and secure communications.
“We look forward to exhibiting our portfolio of unique products and solutions for the third time. As the world’s leading aerospace event, Dubai Airshow remains an ideal opportunity for EDGE to demonstrate its high-quality airspace offerings, with a clear, continued focus on autonomous and unmanned systems, smart weapons and electronic warfare,” said Mansour Al Mulla, Managing Director and CEO, EDGE Group said in statement on Oct. 30.
Additionally, the UAE’s Tawazun Council will take part at the show, not only through its booth but also with plans to announce localization agreements and development programs for the UAE defense industry, the government-run organization said.
Russia And Ukraine
Two years ago, at Dubai Airshow 2021, Russia made a splash when it debuted its newest fighter jet, the Sukhoi Su-75 Checkmate, seeking production cooperation with Emirati firms. Relatively little has been heard of the Checkmate since, and at least based on the public list as of this publication, only a single Russian organization, the Roscosmos space agency, will be attending Dubai year.
But there could be more than meets the eye there, as in at a previous Emirati defense show, IDEX 2023, other Russian firms weren’t officially listed but did participate with a separate outdoor pavilion at the last minute.
At IDEX, Russia’s pavilion was just yards away from a US Army setup showing off the kind of anti-tank weapons used daily in Ukraine. https://t.co/vuR8BnNRtY
— Breaking Defense (@BreakingDefense) February 24, 2023
Though the Ukrainian government and firms have participated in a swath of recent defense shows, including the most recent Dubai Airshow and the AUSA conference in the US last month, this year no Ukrainian companies so far are listed to exhibit at the show.
China And The US
Chinese firms are not shying away from participating heavily in this 18th edition of Dubai Airshow, with 39 companies planning to exhibit their products, according to the public exhibitors list.
One of them, China National Aero Technology Import And Export Corporation, plans to display its L15 jet trainer, which was the subject of a deal with the UAE in 2022.
Then there’s the United States, whose participation rivals host UAE in terms of sheer number of vendors planning to show up. As Breaking Defense previously reported, the conflict in the Middle East was not putting off major defense contractors from flying their flag in Dubai — at least as they monitor the security situation.
RELATED: As regional tensions rise, US defense firms still bound for Dubai Airshow
“It feels a little like the uncertainty around COVID, but no companies are pulling out,” Eric Fanning, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Aerospace Industries Association, told Breaking Defense late last month. “AIA is always in constant contact with US security agencies and embassies, and we feel comfortable going.”
Major US companies are expected to put both civilian and military aircraft on display at the show.
