UNDER THE PATRONAGE OF HIS HIGHNESS SHEIKH TAMIM BIN HAMAD AL THANI, AMIR OF THE STATE OF QATAR.
| Doha, Qatar – March 23, 2022: The curtain came down on the seventh edition of the Doha International Maritime Defence Exhibition and Conference (DIMDEX 2022) at the Qatar National Convention Centre (QNCC) on Wednesday, an event in which more than 200 exhibitors from all parts of the world showcased the latest in military equipment, besides introducing new concepts and breakthrough ideas that will shape the future of the global defence and security industry. 32 deals, including memoranda of understanding (MoU) and Letter of Intent (LoI) were signed during the three-day biennial event that witnessed a turnout close to 20,000 visitors and as many as 90 VIP delegations. The biennial event, hosted and organised by Qatar Armed Forces, will return to Doha for its eighth edition from 4th to 6th of March 2024. Further cementing DIMDEX’s stature as the preeminent event on the international maritime defence and security calendar, the seventh edition also highlighted the importance of protecting vital channels of trade as part of the maritime domain in the region and beyond. In keeping with the overall theme ‘Connecting the World’s Maritime Defence and Security Community,’ the event, which underscored the robust health of the global defence and security industry, brought together some of the biggest names in the business as well as new companies that are making their mark with innovative technologies and products. Staff Brigadier (Sea) Abdulbaqi S. Al-Ansari, Chairman of DIMDEX, said: “Events such as DIMDEX are of crucial importance for regional peace as well as global security as they facilitate military cooperation, collaborative partnerships in the defence and security sector, as well as knowledge exchange at the highest levels between industry and government. The major deals and memoranda of understanding announced during the past three days, while proving yet again that DIMDEX is without parallel when it comes to facilitating commercial success for exhibitors, also point to the global trend of increased military spending. Through DIMDEX 2022, we have been able to fulfill our objectives of strengthening Qatar’s position as a vibrant business hub, in line with the development objectives set out in Qatar National Vision 2030, and further fortifying our national security infrastructure.” Staff Brigadier (Sea) Al-Ansari added: “The DIMDEX Organising Committee wishes to thank sponsors, exhibitors, visitors, and everyone else who worked tirelessly to make the event an unqualified success. We look forward to welcoming the maritime defence and security community once again in 2024, for the eighth edition of DIMDEX.” The Visiting Warships Display at Hamad Port, a popular segment of the three-day event, featured 11 international vessels from ten countries, with visitors getting a chance to interact with crew members. The warships included Qatar’s military training ship Al Doha, HMS Middleton, a Hunt-class mine countermeasures vessel of the British Royal Navy, Italian Navy frigate ITS Carlo Bergamini, INS Kolkota, an Indian Navy stealth guided-missile destroyer, BNS Prottasha, a Type 056 stealth surface warfare guided missile corvette of the Bangladesh Navy, Algeria’s El-Moudamir, an El Radii class frigate, Hitteen, the Badr class corvette of the Saudi Navy, and Al Nassir of the Royal Navy of Oman. Three of Pakistan Navy’s vessels – PNS Shamsheer, a Zulfiquar-class frigate, PNS Azmat, an Azmat-class missile boat, and PMSS Kolachi, a Kashmir-class patrol vessel, and Shahid Naziri from Iran – were also part of the event. As an acknowledgement of their contribution to the success of DIMDEX 2022, Chief of Staff of Qatar Armed Forces Staff Lieutenant General (Pilot) Salem bin Hamad bin Mohammed bin Aqeel Al Nabit, presented mementos to visiting naval ship commanders at the traditional gala appreciation dinner that took place on the opening day of the event at Katara. Among the other highlights of the biennial event was the Middle East Naval Commanders Conference (MENC), which took place on the second day of DIMDEX 2022. Organised in the backdrop of myriad modern-day naval security challenges and the region’s complex maritime environment, the conference, which had ‘Resilience in the Maritime Domain – Confronting Asymmetric Threats’ as its theme, saw doyens in the field of maritime defence and security discussing ways to counter asymmetric threats that pose grave danger to maritime security. As the immensely successful event drew to a close, Staff Brigadier (Sea) Al-Ansari visited exhibitors, presented them trophies, and invited them to the eighth edition of the event. Date: 23 March 2022 |