Abu Dhabi, 20 January 2026: The first day of the Unmanned Systems Exhibition (UMEX) and Simulation and Training Exhibition (SimTEX) 2026, held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Chairman of the Presidential Court for Special Affairs, and Chairman of the Smart and Autonomous Systems Council opened at ADNEC Centre Abu Dhabi, welcoming industry leaders, innovators, and visitors from around the world.
Organised by ADNEC Group, a Modon company, in association with the Ministry of Defence and Tawazun Council for Defence Enablement, with EDGE Group as a Strategic Partner and in collaboration with Abu Dhabi Mobility, UMEX and SimTEX are the worlds largest event dedicated to unmanned and autonomous systems.
UMEX and SimTEX was inaugurated by His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and accompanied on a tour of the exhibition by Sheikh Hamdan bin Saeed bin Tahnoon Al Nahyan, His Excellency Faisal Abdulaziz Mohammed Al Bannai, Advisor to the UAE President for Strategic Research and Advanced Technology Affairs, His Excellency Mohamed bin Mubarak bin Fadhel Al Mazrouei, UAE Minister of State for Defence Affairs, Lieutenant General Issa Saif bin Ablan Al Mazrouei, Chief of Staff of the Armed Force, and His Excellency Humaid Matar Al Dhaheri, Group CEO of ADNEC Group.
Significant industry milestones were achieved on the opening day, with the Tawazun Council for Defence Empowerment announcing four deals valued at AED 879,785 million. Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) were also signed on the opening day, between Al Seer Marine and L3Harris, for a strategic alliance to advance unmanned systems in the Middle East, as well as a range of new products were launched, reflecting the event’s importance as a platform for strategic partnerships and industry growth.
A press conference was held on the sidelines of UMEX and SimTEX to announce the launch of SIRBAI, the Middle East’s first AI-powered autonomous drone swarm technology. SIRBAI builds on advanced research developed in Abu Dhabi, including capabilities from the Technology Innovation Institute. The launch introduces a scalable, operator-friendly approach to autonomous swarm operations, supporting defence missions ranging from surveillance and protection to advanced manned-unmanned teaming.
The day was marked by the launch of several competitions and challenges, including the Ministry of Defence Coding Competition, Drone Challenge and Cybersecurity Challenge for UAE nationals to test their skills in realistic penetration scenarios, including a capture the flag competition, real-world cyber-attack and defence scenarios, and ethical hacking, penetration testing, and vulnerability analysis. Another highlight was the commencement of the A2RL Summit 3.0, bringing together global experts to discuss the future of robotics, AI, and autonomous mobility.
Stephane Timpano, CEO of ASPIRE, part of the Abu Dhabi’s Advanced Technology Research Council (ATRC), delivered opening remarks at the A2RL Summit 3.0, focusing on the organisation’s mission and the critical role of advanced technology testing, specifically through autonomous racing.
During his remarks, Stephane Timpano said: “ASPIRE’s core objective is to bridge frontier research and real-world deployment, which is achieved by creating environments where advanced technology is exposed to failure, measured against reality, and improved because of it.”
Stephane Timpano also announced the upcoming A2RL Drone Championship, which would see multiple drones racing together at speeds up to 140 kilometres per hour, operating without external controls and relying entirely on both onboard perception and real-time decision-making.
Saleem Alblooshi, Chief Technology Officer at du, provided a presentation on the Business Case for A2RL as testbed for tech capabilities, focusing on the deployment of private 5G networks in autonomous car racing. He shared his personal experience of attending the A2RL Season 2 final, emphasising the technical and operational challenges his team and partners overcame. Mr. Alblooshi detailed the collaborative efforts, lessons learnt, and the broader significance of this project for advancing innovation and building trust in private 5G networks.
The exhibition floor featured two main Commercial and Defence zones dedicated to technologies. These zones hosted leading local and international companies, offering visitors a first-hand look at the latest advancements in unmanned systems, AI, robotics, and simulation.
With two more days ahead, UMEX and SimTEX 2026 promise further competitions, technology showcases, and major announcements, continuing to set the pace for innovation and collaboration in unmanned systems and simulation technologies both regionally and internationally.
Register as a visitor to the Unmanned Systems Exhibition and the Simulation and Training Exhibition at the official website here, and witness the autonomous technologies shaping the future.
