16 February 2020 – Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates: His Excellency (H.E.) Mohammed Ahmed Al Bowardi, UAE’s Minister of State for Defense will focus on regional defense industry challenges and opportunities during his keynote speech at the Global Aerospace Summit 2020. The event, taking place in Abu Dhabi on 17-19 March, is one of the world’s leading thought leadership forums for the aviation, aerospace, space and defense industries. 

H.E. will speak on the impact of collaboration and strategic partnership in ensuring peace and prosperity both regionally and globally. This year’s Summit will include an increasing focus on the defense sector with EDGE recently announcing its role as joint partner for the event. EDGE, the newly established advanced technology group for defense and beyond, has joined Mubadala Investment Company as a host partner for the fifth edition of the Summit. 

“We are witnessing rapid changes across the world and specifically in our region which require us to cooperate more closely to ensure safety and security,” said. H.E. Al Bowardi. “The UAE remains committed to working with international partners to share knowledge, expertise and collaborate to achieve our goals.”

“The Global Aerospace Summit will be a strategic platform for the defense industry to discuss developments along with key stakeholders from across the planet. We will have the opportunity to demonstrate the importance of developing robust domestic capabilities and the continuous need for investing in advanced technology and innovation. The aerospace industry will play a central role in the future of defense and we believe that bilateral ties within this sector can create the synergies needed for a safer and more secure world,” added H.E. Al Bowardi.   

The UAE’s Ministry of Defense has continued to emphasize the importance of international collaboration having hosted a series of discussions with a number of countries including Kuwait, Pakistan, Australia, Comoros, France and others. The sessions have focused on potential cooperation in the defense sector. 

The UAE has developed significant defense capabilities over the past twenty years, establishing a number of technology and MRO centers. AMMROC, based in Al Ain in the emirate of Abu Dhabi, is a repair facility for military aircraft, jointly owned with Lockheed Martin and the only C-130 service center in the Middle East and North Africa.

Held under the theme of ‘insights and integration’, the Global Aerospace Summit 2020 will offer a platform for the UAE to highlight its strategy of working with international partners to enhance and develop local capabilities. It will also be an opportunity to showcase methods for building national technological skills and leveraging cutting-edge solutions to achieve ambitious visions for the future.