Many Israeli defense companies took center stage this February at IDEX 2025, the international defense technology exhibition hosted biennially in Abu Dhabi. IDEX 2025, one of the world’s leading defense exhibitions and the largest defense expo in the Middle East, featured 1,565 exhibitors from 65 countries—a 16% increase from IDEX 2023. Seven countries participated this year for the first time, including Qatar, Ethiopia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, and Cyprus. According to the official IDEX website, this year’s exhibition made history as the largest and most influential edition to this day, featuring an exceptional number of exhibitors, international delegations, deals, and demonstrations.

The International Defense Cooperation Directorate of the Israeli Ministry of Defense, or SIBAT, showcased a number of Israeli technologies at the expo; their pavilion featured advanced technologies in the fields of force protection, cyber, logistics, and unmanned systems. Among them: next-generation personal protection plates, advanced tactical medical equipment, combat-proven drone defense systems, and sophisticated communications solutions. Many of these technologies have already undergone combat and have proven their operational capabilities on the battlefield. 

The official Israeli delegation was led by SIBAT Director Brig. Gen. (Ret.) Yair Kulas. Israel’s Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates, Yossi Shelley, and other senior industry officials also participated at the pavilion’s inauguration ceremony. In a statement, Brig. Gen. (Ret.) Kulas said: “Israel’s participation in IDEX 2025 represents the flourishing defense cooperation that has emerged since the Abraham Accords. The combat-proven systems and technologies showcased by our defense industries highlight Israel’s technological edge and our commitment to working with international partners to address shared security challenges.”

Echoing this sentiment, Boaz Levy, the CEO of Israel Aerospace Industries, said in a JNS interview that “This is the Middle East’s largest defense show […] a show that we have been attending since the Abraham Accords were signed in 2020. The Accords were designed to bring peace and prosperity to our region, and this show and our participation—along with other Israeli companies’ participation—is, in many ways, turning that vision into a reality.” Boaz described the warm welcome his delegation received from their Emirati hosts and stated: “our participation underscores our commitment to our partners in the Gulf countries as we work together to promote innovation, progress, and technological creativity while harnessing these values to create a promising future for the region.” The IAI pavilion presented a wide range of ground-breaking systems, including air defense, remotely-crewed aircraft and satellite systems, naval combat suites, and a variety of sensors, including radars, electro-optics, and electronic warfare.

Other participating companies at the Israeli pavilion include Rafael Advanced Defense Systems Ltd, Elbit Systems Ltd., Ophir Optronics Solutions (MKS), Dagan-Optics Ltd., Omnisys Ltd., Orbit Communication Systems Ltd. and more.

Israel’s strong presence at IDEX 2025 in the UAE, in spite of international scrutiny, underscores its role as a major player in the global defense industry and as a strategic partner in the Middle East. As Israeli defense firms deepen their ties in the region, their cutting-edge innovations are set to play a pivotal role in shaping the future of military and security operations on a global scale.