UAE EDGE Group showcases HT-750 unmanned helicopter. Kadulis Company in the United Arab Emirates has launched the "Falcon" 8 × 8 wheeled armored vehicle. Recently, the 17th Abu Dhabi International Defense Exhibition came to an end in Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates. Against the backdrop of long-term large-scale arms procurement in the Middle East, the Abu Dhabi International Defense Exhibition is regarded as an important platform for countries to enter the Middle East arms market and has attracted global attention. The Abu Dhabi International Defense Exhibition, held every two years, is not only the largest defense exhibition in the Middle East, but also one of the most active defense exchange platforms in the world. This defense exhibition continues the high popularity of the past, with outstanding highlights. One is to reach a new high in scale. Data shows that this year's defense exhibition attracted 1565 defense companies to participate, an increase of about 16% compared to the previous one. Among them, 731 companies participated in the exhibition for the first time. The total area of the indoor exhibition hall is about 180000 square meters, an increase of about 10% compared to the previous edition, and the total number of visitors exceeds 150000. Secondly, trading continues to climb. Previously, the UAE government had signed military procurement contracts worth over 10 billion dirhams (approximately 2.7 billion US dollars) for nine consecutive years at the Abu Dhabi International Defense Exhibition. At this year's defense exhibition, the United Arab Emirates announced just two days after its opening that it had signed 18 contracts worth approximately 9.8 billion dirhams. Thirdly, the theme is constantly expanding. In addition to the traditional defense field, this year's defense exhibition will focus on showcasing artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and next-generation defense technologies. A new exhibition hall will be specially built to gather more than 30 defense companies and showcase cutting-edge innovative achievements in the fields of chemical and biological weapon prevention, nuclear radiation prevention, and explosion prevention. Abu Dhabi International Defense Exhibition Chairman Faris expressed his hope to use the exhibition as a foundation to build the UAE into a key hub with regional and even global influence in the fields of defense and security. The many features of the defense exhibition showcase the host's vision of embracing the world and focusing on the forefront. On the one hand, internationalization and localization are equally emphasized. This year's defense exhibition, with the slogan of "a world stage for defense innovation and cooperation," showcases an open and inclusive attitude to global military enterprises. The total number of participating countries reached 65, among which 7 countries including Qatar, Hungary, and Lithuania participated for the first time. It is worth mentioning that this year's defense exhibition invited over 10 Russian military industrial enterprises to participate and showcased their weapons and equipment in the main exhibition hall. At the same time, this year's defense exhibition continues the consistent practice of promoting local enterprises in the UAE. The UAE National Pavilion has the largest area and is located in the core area, with 213 local companies participating. On the opening day of the defense exhibition, the UAE government reached 9 deals with local enterprises, totaling nearly 4 billion dirhams, covering multiple fields such as ammunition, armored vehicles, and artificial intelligence systems, to help local enterprises enhance their international influence. On the other hand, there is a tug of war between unmanned and anti unmanned technologies. Affected by local conflicts and the development of weapon and equipment technology in recent years, the struggle between unmanned and anti unmanned technology has become a major highlight of this defense exhibition. UAE exhibitors showcase their unmanned combat platforms across land, sea, and air. Milham Company showcased a new 8 × 8 wheeled combat robot, which is equipped with hybrid power and has a larger combat radius. It can be used interchangeably with the spare parts of 40 unmanned combat vehicles purchased by the United Arab Emirates last year, effectively reducing the cost of use. The DV10 unmanned surface vessel, led by Abu Dhabi Shipyard, adopts a stealth design and is equipped with a remote weapon station. It can perform missions alone or in groups, weighs less than 3 tons, has a draft of 0.4 meters, and has the ability to operate in global waters. The HT-750 unmanned helicopter exhibited by EDGE Group is equipped with a modular pod system, which can perform various tasks such as intelligence, reconnaissance, surveillance, and logistics medical care. Anti unmanned technology is also becoming increasingly mature. The Russian company UVZ has publicly showcased for the first time the updated T-90MS main battle tank, which is equipped with protective gear against drones and enhances passive protection at the top and rear. The latest coastal control radar launched by Saab Group in Sweden adopts a compact modular design that can be integrated into facilities such as bridges, achieving full angle coverage and detecting small and rapidly moving unmanned surface vessels at long distances and in harsh environments. The latest hybrid short-range air defense system showcased by Hanhua Group in South Korea is equipped with multifunctional radar, which can effectively respond to various types of low altitude drones. Experts have analyzed that the Abu Dhabi International Defense Exhibition, with its expanding scale and increasing influence, reflects the UAE's determination to support defense innovation, strengthen international cooperation, and promote defense economic development. It consolidates its leading position in the regional defense industry and helps the UAE move towards its vision of becoming a key partner in global defense solutions. Despite its broad development prospects, the United Arab Emirates still faces challenges such as limited international influence of local enterprises and competition from regional powers in organizing exhibitions. (New Society)