Skip to content
MIKES
Middle EastTrade shows & exhibitions

7–9 Mar 2028

Unmanned Systems Exhibition & Conference (UMEX)

ADNEC Centre Abu Dhabi · Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

Unmanned Systems Exhibition & Conference (UMEX) venue
Dates
Tue, 7 March 2028 – Thu, 9 March 2028
Venue
ADNEC Centre Abu Dhabi
Location
Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Organizer
ADNEC Group (Capital Events)
Cost
free
Scale
major
Recurrence
biennial
Format
On-site

Market intel

High pricinghigh confidence

UMEX 2026 was the seventh and largest edition in the event's history, setting records across all key metrics including visitors, exhibitors, and deal value.

  • The 2026 show generated AED 3.6 billion in deals through the Tawazun Council, a 20% increase over 2024, with 45% national and 55% international exhibitor participation.
  • The next edition is confirmed for 7–9 March 2028 at ADNEC Centre Abu Dhabi.
Notable exhibitors
EDGE Group (UAE)Milrem Robotics (Estonia)Shield AI (USA)General Atomics Aeronautical Systems (USA)NORINCO (China)LODD Autonomous (UAE)Joby Aviation (USA)Tawazun Council / International Golden Group (UAE)

AI-researched Wed, 2 September 2026. Estimates from public sources. Verify with the organizer.

Why it matters

UMEX is the primary procurement and partnership gateway for unmanned systems in the MENA region, attracting hundreds of military delegations and government buyers with real acquisition authority.

  • For SMEs and startups, the dedicated 'Elevate' investor summit and commercial zone provide direct access to venture capital and regional government customers in one of the world's fastest-growing UAS markets.
  • The Tawazun Council's on-site deal-signing (AED 3.6 billion in 2026) makes it a high-stakes commercial event where contracts are actually concluded on the floor.

About

UMEX is the world's largest dedicated exhibition and conference for unmanned and autonomous systems, held biennially in Abu Dhabi.

  • The event covers defence and commercial applications across air, land, maritime, and space domains, featuring UAVs, UGVs, USVs, robotics, AI, and simulation technologies.
  • It runs alongside SimTEX (Simulation and Training Exhibition) and an International Defence Conference (IDC), with live demonstrations at both ADNEC and the Tilal Swaihan outdoor arena.
  • First held independently from IDEX in 2015, UMEX is organised by ADNEC Group in association with the UAE Ministry of Defence and the Tawazun Council for Defence Enablement.

Topics

UAS / DronesAutonomy & RoboticsAIISR & SensorsSimulation & Training

Who it's for

PrimesSMEsStartupsInvestorsInstitutions

Related events

Compare these

Bamako Expo 2026 (BAMEX'26)

Bamako / Mali

BAMEX is the only defense trade show in the Sahel region with dedicated live-demonstration days before procuring delegations, giving exhibitors direct access to heads of state offices, ministries of defense, general staff, and procurement authorities from up to 54 African nations in a single venue. For SMEs and startups, it offers a rare early-mover opportunity in one of the world's fastest-growing defense markets, where demand for border security, UAS, counter-UAS, and soldier systems is acute. The organizers project up to $500 million in business volume per edition, making it a commercially high-stakes platform despite its relatively compact size.

SADEX – Saudi Drone & UAS Exhibition

Riyadh / Saudi Arabia

SADEX is the primary gateway for international UAS suppliers seeking access to the fast-growing Saudi and Gulf drone market, where government mega-projects (NEOM, Vision 2030 logistics corridors) are generating substantial procurement demand. The previous edition facilitated SAR 1.5 billion in signed business agreements, making it a high-conversion commercial event rather than a purely promotional one. For SMEs and startups, the structured B2B matchmaking and direct access to Saudi government buyers, regulators (GACA), and sovereign-fund-backed investors represent a rare entry point into a market with significant localization incentives.