New defence deals signed as Dimdex concludes

The largest edition of the Doha International Maritime Defence Exhibition and Conference (Dimdex) 2016 concluded on Thursday with eight new deals, bringing the total value of agreements signed at the three-day event by Qatar to QR32.58bn.
Brig Dr Thani A al-Kuwari, chairman of Dimdex, also announced the event will return in 2018 from March 12 to 14.
The single largest deal at Dimdex 2016 was the QR27.75bn contract Qatar inked on Tuesday with France’s Rafale International (Dassault Aviation) for 24 Rafale fighter jets.
If on Wednesday, the total value of 10 memorandums of understanding (MoUs) signed was QR3.54bn, the figure was QR1.29bn on Thursday for the eight new MoUs.
The biggest deal on Thursday was a QR460.5mn MoU between the Qatar Armed Forces and US company Aurora for drone sensor integration.
Qatar Armed Forces also inked another four deals on Thursday. The second was for QR200mn with French company Airbus for a long distance satellite ground imaging station.
Next was a QR126.8mn MoU with the US company L-3 for MX20D and M25 drone cameras, followed by a QR54.7mn deal with US company Textron Systems for Aerosonde MK 4.7 drones and a QR34.6mn MoU with South Korean company AK & Partners for surveillance vehicles.
Qatar Emiri Naval Forces signed three agreements on Thursday. The biggest was a QR173.46mn deal with Qatari company Nakilat Damen Shipyards Qatar for diving support boats.
This was followed by a QR169.33 MoU with Turkish company Yonca Onuc for the purchase of fast interceptor vessels and a QR68mn deal with European company Zodiac for the purchase of armed fast attack vessels.
Surpassing the success of previous years, Dimdex 2016 attracted more exhibitors and higher levels of participation by welcoming 9,000 visitors and official VIP delegations from over 60 participating countries.
Against the backdrop of a buoyant defence market, international and local exhibitors took full advantage of the opportunity to present the latest in maritime defence technology to buyers, build business connections, discuss the latest trends in the industry and secure deals.
As part of Dimdex 2016, a total of eight warships had docked at Doha Port and were open to VIPs, trade professionals and visitors.
A sport tournament for the warship crews contested in the spirit of friendly competition also concluded on Thursday.
Brig Dr Thani A al-Kuwari, chairman of Dimdex, said: “As host and organiser, the Qatar Armed Forces are proud of Dimdex 2016’s contribution towards the development and prosperity of the State of Qatar and its reputation as a hub for events and conferences of global significance in line with the vision of our patron HH the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani.”