Set to be bigger and more diverse than ever before, the seventh edition of the Doha International Maritime Defence Exhibition & Conference (DIMDEX 2020) will take place from 16 to 18 March 2020. With less than one year to go until key decision makers from the maritime defence and security industry meet in Qatar once again, DIMDEX organisers say that demand for exhibition space is high and have already received requests for bookings for the upcoming edition.

Held under the patronage of His Highness the Emir of the State of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, and proudly hosted and organised by Qatar Armed Forces, DIMDEX has grown each year since its launch in 2008 and is now internationally recognised as a platform for businesses from the global defence industry to showcase their latest technologies to government entities and industry peers to form new partnerships.

Focused on ‘Connecting the World’s Maritime Defence and Security Community’, DIMDEX 2020 will bring together the latest innovations and solutions under one roof. Participants will have access to an established delegation management system that offers a business matching service between the official VIP delegations and DIMDEX exhibitors. Thought leaders from around the globe will be sharing their expertise at the Middle East Naval Commanders Conference (MENC) and several international navies will display their warships at Hamad Port.

Strongly supported by His Excellency, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Defence Affairs, Dr Khalid bin Mohamed Al-Attiyah, and the attendance of other Qatari military officials and government representatives, DIMDEX 2020 will continue to offer unprecedented opportunities to its participants. DIMDEX has a proven track record of delivering commercial opportunities for members of the maritime defence and security community. In 2018, it attracted 13,000 visitors from 69 countries and witnessed the signing of more than 35 agreements, partnerships, and memorandums of understanding.

With less than one year to go until DIMDEX 2020, a new report by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) shows that Qatar is ranked one of the top importers of major arms in the region. In addition, global defence spending – which reached a record of USD 1.78 trillion in 2018 – is expected to grow by 2% per year from 2019 to 2023 according to Jane’s Defence Budget.

In this context, DIMDEX 2020 is expected to attract record numbers of exhibitors than in previous years. Organisers say that a diverse range of prime suppliers and manufacturers are requesting to book space, among which are new exhibitors in growing areas of the defence industry like cybersecurity and artificial intelligence, adding to the range of products and technologies that will be showcased.

Staff Brigadier (Sea) Abdulbaqi S. Al-Ansari, Chairman of DIMDEX, said: “The seventh edition of DIMDEX is set to be one of the most exciting to date and we are seeing high levels of interest from a wider range of industry players. It will provide an opportunity for key decision makers to learn about the latest industry trends and technologies, as nations continue to invest in their militaries to maintain stability and security. At DIMDEX 2020, I expect to see many new developments in the cybersecurity field, which is an emerging technology in the defence industry and an essential part of the defence ecosystem.”

“Growing each year since its inception, DIMDEX has become a firm fixture in the maritime defence and security industry calendar and I look forward to welcoming delegates to Doha next year. Besides meeting with previous edition’s exhibitors, I hope to see many new participants from a larger number of countries as DIMDEX widens its offering and expands into new areas.” 

DIMDEX 2020 will serve as a platform for businesses to network with high-level defence industry stakeholders not only from Qatar but across the globe. Qatar’s increase in military spending to record levels is likely to act as a draw for deal-makers looking for new opportunities in the region. 

Staff Brigadier (Sea) Abdulbaqi S. Al-Ansari concluded: “I very much look forward to this landmark event, which promises to deliver an outstanding experience for all.”