Abu dhabi: Under the patronage of H.H. 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, the International Defence Conference (IDC) 2026 has commenced today at the ADNEC Centre Abu Dhabi. The event was graced by the presence of Lieutenant General Ibrahim Nasser Al Alawi, Under-Secretary of the Ministry of Defence.
According to Emirates News Agency, IDC 2026 is being held under the theme “Smart Horizons: Redefining Defence Through Intelligent Autonomy.” Organized by ADNEC Group, a Modon company, in association with the Ministry of Defence and Tawazun Council for Defence Enablement, the conference brings together leading minds from the international defence and security community, industry experts, and innovators.
The inaugural speech was delivered by Major General Mubarak Saeed Aljaberi, Assistant Minister of State for Digital Transformation, Technology and Artificial Intelligence. He discussed the impact of intelligent autonomous technology on sectors such as defence, transportation, energy, healthcare, and smart cities. Aljaberi emphasized the importance of the UAE’s National Strategy for Artificial Intelligence, highlighting the need for intelligent integration across three dimensions: technological and data innovation, partnership innovation, and process innovation.
Aljaberi elaborated on technological and data innovation, mentioning developments like counter-drone solutions on locally manufactured vehicles and unmanned surveillance assets for coastal security. He stressed the significance of partnership innovation, advocating for collaboration with global industrial partners, academia, and start-ups to strengthen defence capabilities. He also highlighted the urgency of process innovation, calling for rapid acquisition and seamless integration of new technology with existing systems.
In his concluding remarks, Aljaberi reflected on the unification of the armed forces’ 50th anniversary, emphasizing the role of AI in defence while upholding national values and humanity.
The conference’s theme focuses on the influence of emerging technologies on societies, defence ecosystems, and global security. IDC 2026 features three panels, examining opportunities and implications of intelligent autonomy in modern battle spaces, including topics like Command Networks of the Future, The Autonomous Force, and Global Autonomy Standards.
IDC 2026 also provides networking opportunities with industry professionals, insights from panel discussions, and exposure to the latest technological advancements in global defence. Held a day before the seventh edition of the Unmanned Systems Exhibition (UMEX) and the Simulation and Training Exhibition (SimTEX), the conference attracts over 700 participants from the defence, security, and technology sectors, including senior military commanders worldwide.