The UAE's leaders and visiting heads of state watched a spectacular opening ceremony as Abu Dhabi's annual defence show got under way on Sunday.
A Khaleeji bagpipe band and a stunning aerial display by the seven jets of the Al Fursan performance team were part of the morning's events.
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, and Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Commander of the Armed Forces, were among the hundreds of spectators at the purpose-built parade ground at Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre.
My brother Mohammed bin Rashid, Crown Princes, leaders and representatives of countries witnessed the launch of the 14th edition of IDEX 2019, which brings together pioneers as well as major defence & military companies to showcase their innovations. pic.twitter.com/u9d2vWo9gu
— محمد بن زايد (@MohamedBinZayed) February 17, 2019
Sheikh Mohamed tweeted images of himself alongside Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, while Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, the Crown Prince of Dubai, was also in attendance.
معرضا آيدكس ونافدكس اللذان تستضيفهما أبوظبي سنوياً، برعاية رئيس الدولة حفظه الله، حدث اقتصادي وتكنولوجي وعسكري فريد يجمع العالم مجدداً في الإمارات، حيث كبرى الشركات وأفضل الممارسات والعقول تسهم في رسم حاضر ومستقبل الصناعات الدفاعية وعلاقتها بتطور الدولpic.twitter.com/R1ILS0eEQW
— هزاع بن زايد (@HazzaBinZayed) February 17, 2019
Among the foreign dignitaries was the Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov and the Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
Organisers of the event expect UAE defence deals to exceed Dh19 billion in the coming days.
Meanwhile, Sheikh Hazza bin Zayed, Vice Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council, described Idex in a tweet as a "unique economic, technological and military event that brings the world together again in the UAE".
He posted a video of UAE Founder Father Sheikh Zayed touring what appears to be an earlier version of the event.
