As the countdown begins for the seventh edition of the Doha International Maritime Defence Exhibition and Conference (DIMDEX), the organising committee provided an update on the preparations and an overview of the event at a diplomat briefing session at Sharq Village and Spa on 21st of February.
One of the most awaited events on the international maritime defence and security calendar, DIMDEX 2022 is shaping up to be the biggest and most diverse edition ever, with more than 200 companies from nearly 20 countries set to showcase their products and capabilities. The biennial event, held under the patronage of HH Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, the Amir of the State of Qatar, and hosted and organised by Qatar Armed Forces, will take place from 21st - 23rd of March 2022 at the Qatar National Convention Centre (QNCC) under the theme ‘Connecting the World’s Maritime Defence and Security Community.’
An overview of the progress DIMDEX has achieved over the past editions was presented to the diplomats and other high-level delegates in attendance at the briefing session. The DIMDEX Organising Committee also shared details on various aspects and attractions of the upcoming edition: the main exhibition where new and futuristic technologies will be on display, the Middle East Naval Commanders Conference (MENC), the Visiting Warships Display at Hamad Port, as well as the opportunity to network with VIPs and senior defence decision-makers comprising Ministers of Defence, Chiefs of Staff, Chiefs of Navies, Coastguard Commanders, and heads of defence industries who will be attending DIMDEX 2022.
Ministry of Public Health officials and Qatar Armed Forces Medical Services representatives provided details of the medical preparedness plan in place for the event, including COVID-19 health and safety protocols. Details on the hospitality and services for Official VIP delegations were also shared with the Diplomats, along with insights on the logistics and security for visiting warships that will be hosted at Hamad Port. DIMDEX 2022 visitors will get a chance to get up close with an array of warships from navies around the world. While DIMDEX 2018 featured nine warships from seven countries, the organising committee expects to have 15-20 warships in the upcoming edition. The crew of the visiting warships will be welcomed to discover Doha and the activities associated with the event, including a crew sports tournament that will be held to promote camaraderie between visiting crews.
Staff Brigadier (Sea) Abdulbaqi S. Al-Ansari, Chairman of DIMDEX, said: “It is indeed an honour to receive ambassadors, defence and commercial attachés, and representatives from the military at today’s briefing. The unstinting support we received strengthens our determination to organise an edition that will be bigger and better than previous editions. We can feel the anticipation building up as we enter the last leg of preparations for DIMDEX 2022.The Organising Committee will leave nothing to chance and will work hard to ensure a smooth, safe and successful edition.”
The Middle East Naval Commanders Conference (MENC), which will take place on the second day of the three-day event, is one of the most popular features of DIMDEX. At the briefing, participants were provided details of the event, including the conference theme - “Resilience in the Maritime Domain – Confronting Asymmetric Threats”- and information about the keynote speakers. At the conference, a glittering panel that will include experts from academia and leading industry figures will discuss a variety of topical issues in the maritime domain and attempt to find globally applicable solutions to what is one of the most daunting challenges the domain faces - asymmetric threats.
Dr. Andreas Krieg MENC Conference Director, said: “The Middle East Naval Commanders Conference (MENC) is an integral part of DIMDEX 2022 and brings together a diverse group of world-leading experts in maritime security to better understand how to develop resilience in the maritime domain. As the centre of gravity for security in the Gulf, it is important that the various challenges to actors in the maritime domain are well understood and where possible mitigated. MENC 2022 will address these challenges in an effort to achieve a higher degree of resilience of critical maritime infrastructure and waterways around the Arabian Gulf and connected waterways.“
DIMDEX, which has grown both in scope and size over the years since the inaugural edition in 2008, will have a larger exhibition space at DIMDEX 2022 than previous editions. In an area landscaped over 35,000 sqm at the QNCC, exhibitors will showcase their products and capabilities, in addition to networking with key decision makers from Qatar and other countries.
Through successive editions, DIMDEX has earned a reputation for facilitating major commercial success and providing unparalleled opportunities for knowledge sharing at the highest levels of industry and government. The event has played a major role not only in the growth of Qatar’s military capabilities but also in speeding up the growth of the country’s domestic defence industry. Agreements worth over USD 32 billion have been signed since the inaugural edition. In the 2018 edition alone, 35 partnerships were announced, with 27 agreements signed at the event itself.
Over 13,000 visitors and participants from 69 countries attended the sixth edition of DIMDEX. The upcoming edition, which will have more than 200 companies from across the globe showcasing the latest innovations in the maritime and naval sphere, including anti-piracy systems, C5iSR systems, AI software, electronic warfare and intelligence, and autonomous systems, is expected to see the largest ever turnout of visitors.
