The UAE authorities have fully opened their doors to Israeli arms manufacturers—companies that have played a major role in the killing of Palestinians in Gaza—allowing them to showcase their weapons and other products at the International Defense Exhibition (IDEX) and the Naval Defense & Security Exhibition (NAVDEX) in Abu Dhabi from February 17 to 21, 2025.
The Israeli pavilion at IDEX featured 40 Israeli arms manufacturers, including Israel Aerospace Industries, IMI Systems, Rafael Advanced Defense Systems, and Elbit Systems. These companies unveiled new and advanced weapons, some of which had already been tested in the war on Gaza.
According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, three of the Israeli companies participating in the exhibition, ranked among the world’s top 100 arms manufacturers in 2023, recorded record sales of $13.6 billion that year, largely driven by the Israeli war on Gaza.
Despite the widespread destruction and more than 160,000 martyrs and wounded, Abu Dhabi did not sever ties with the Israeli occupation—not even partially. On the contrary, reports indicate that bilateral trade between the two sides increased during the war from October 7, 2023, to January 19, 2025.
IDEX organizers stated: “This is a global event. It is open to everyone to attend and showcase their products here in Abu Dhabi. The Israeli pavilion is expanding with us, with around 40 companies exhibiting at IDEX 2025.”
The strong presence of Israeli companies at IDEX 2025 highlights the deepening relationship between Abu Dhabi and the Israeli occupation.
Boaz Levy, CEO of Israel Aerospace Industries, expressed his delight at participating in the exhibition, acknowledging that Abu Dhabi allowed them to attend despite Israeli crimes in Gaza. He stated: “We are very pleased to be here,” emphasizing that the war on Gaza did not “prevent us from cooperating with our allies in the region.”
Levy added: “Of course, some of our products are deployed there (in Gaza), but we are a company that deals with technology and provides end users with the capabilities they need on the battlefield—this is what we do daily.”
Ron Pollak, sales director at an Israeli arms manufacturer specializing in small arms, rifles, pistols, and machine guns, stated: “We work extensively with the Abraham Accords countries (normalization states).”
He added: “We truly enjoy the hospitality and friendship we experience here in the UAE.”
The deputy head of sales and marketing at IMI Systems called the normalization agreements “a very strong peace agreement,” affirming that “we feel safe and welcomed here in the UAE.”
Last year, the French government banned Israeli companies from setting up booths or showcasing their equipment at the Euronaval defense trade show due to the rising death toll in Gaza. However, a Paris court later overturned this decision.
In Abu Dhabi, despite granting Israeli companies extensive participation, the war on Gaza and Lebanon has tarnished the occupation’s global reputation. This has led to many countries and arms manufacturers avoiding the Israeli pavilion, according to complaints from Israeli company representatives at both exhibitions.
Israeli exhibitors acknowledge that this is a sensitive time for securing deals, facing a different atmosphere compared to the last IDEX exhibition in February 2023, held before the war on Gaza.
Bentsion Levinson, founder and chairman of Heven Drones—a company with headquarters in both the U.S. and Israel—commented: “We launched a drone at IDEX 2023, and the atmosphere was certainly different then. The world has undoubtedly changed over the past two years, but we are all here to protect our countries.”
Levinson noted that while opportunities for business dealings with Middle Eastern clients still exist, there is now caution regarding publicly discussing potential deals. However, he believes that prospective clients are looking for battle-tested systems, making them more inclined to make purchases.
Abraham Mazor, vice president of business development and marketing at Smart Shooter, a company specializing in fire control systems for small arms, stated: “We believe the UAE is seeking innovation and the latest technologies.” He emphasized that attracting UAE clients is a priority for the company, which already has customers in the Middle East and Europe.
When asked whether Israeli companies were being viewed differently since the last exhibition, Mazor replied: “We have a good product, a solid product. At IDEX last year and this year, we are not discussing politics—we are simply happy to help our partners deploy the best systems.”
Pollak, in turn, noted: “IDEX is an international exhibition, not just for the Middle East. We receive visitors from South America, Europe, and, of course, the Middle East. It is essentially a global exhibition,” adding that “governments typically purchase what they need. If politics are set aside, they will buy the best available option.”
Abu Dhabi signed a normalization agreement with the Israeli occupation in September 2020 under U.S. mediation. The agreement includes cooperation in defense investment, cybersecurity, financial technology, energy, and agricultural technology.
However, the UAE has not limited itself to normalization—it has also become a major purchaser of Israeli weapons. Along with Bahrain and Morocco, the UAE accounted for nearly 25% of Israel’s total arms exports in 2022, amounting to approximately $12.5 billion.
Moreover, Abu Dhabi is an active investor in the Israeli security and defense industry through the Mubadala Investment Company (a global investment firm serving Abu Dhabi’s government), the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (the emirate’s primary sovereign wealth fund), and G42 (a cyber-intelligence firm owned by UAE National Security Adviser Sheikh Tahnoun bin Zayed). In March 2021, the UAE allocated $10 billion for investments in Israel’s strategic sectors.
These partnerships and investments in Israeli weaponry have made Abu Dhabi a key partner in the crimes committed by the Israeli occupation in Gaza and Lebanon. The UAE has now become a primary accomplice in horrifying massacres that cannot be concealed by the tens of thousands of tons of aid it has sent—and continues to send—to the people of Gaza.
