The total value of deals announced at the International Defence Exhibition and Conference (Idex 2017) and the Naval Defence Exhibition (Navdex 2017) in Abu Dhabi will exceed Dh20 billion ($5.45 billion), an official said.

Naval Staff Colonel Fahed Nasser Al Thehli, official spokesperson of the fourth edition of the Naval Defence Exhibition (Navdex 2017) said national companies accounted for 63.4 percent of the total number of deals made during the first four days of Idex.

In a statement to Emirates News Agency, WAM, Colonel Al Thehli said national companies accounted for 52 transactions of out 82, with regional and international companies acquiring the remaining 30 deals.

This year's edition of the shows, which concluded today (Feb 23), drew the participation of 1,235 specialised local and international companies in the defence industry, organisers said.

His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, yesterday toured Idex where he visited the stands of a number of national, Arab and foreign defence companies.

He praised the national defence industry for making significant progress and becoming a significant source of support for the UAE Armed Forces.

"The national defence manufacturing industry was built on the solid foundations laid by the nation's founder, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, who had established a national military establishment that could carry out all the missions of defending the country. This is being realised today under the leadership of President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan towards a purely Emirati military equipment manufacturing industry using Emirati expertise and manpower," he said.