Abu Dhabi drone show draws in a global audience

An Emirati stands near a General Atomics Predator XP drone on display at a drone conference in Abu Dhabi. The UAE on Sunday opened a stand-alone trade show featuring military drones called the Unmanned Systems Exhibition & Conference, showing the power the weapons have across the Middle East. (AP)

ABU DHABI: The UAE is hosting a stand-alone trade show focusing on drone technology for civil and military use amid surging demand for such systems across the region.
Running until Tuesday, the Unmanned Systems Exhibition and Conference (Umex) is being attended by 14 nations and 35 exhibitors.
Brig. Gen. Rashid Mohammed Al-Shamsi, chairman of the higher organizing committee of Umex and SimTEX 2018, said this year’s exhibition will shed light on scientific and technological progress and innovation in the UAE.
Among the top companies in attendance is General Atomics, a San Diego-based defense contractor known for its Predator drones. The UAE previously purchased some $200 million worth of surveillance-only Predator drones, according to reports.
The model of Predator drone bought by the UAE has a flight time of more than 35 hours and operates at altitudes of 25,000 feet, according to General Atomics.
Last year, Saudi Arabia entered into an arrangement with a Chinese drone manufacturer, China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC), that will see drones made in the Kingdom. CASC has also sold drones to Egypt, Iraq and Jordan, underlining the appetite for the technology in the region.
The US has so far been reticent to sell drones to anyone but its closest allies, fearing proliferation of the technology.
India has also snapped up non-militarised drones, buying an estimated 22 Sea Guardian drones in late 2017 for a reported $2 billion, according to local media. The drones will be used to monitor the Indian coastline.
In the civilian field, Dubai’s Road and Transport Authority showcased its autonomous air taxi at the tech-focused Gitex trade show in October 2017. The nation also is home to ‘The UAE Drones for Good Awards,’ which showcases exemplary work in civilian drone design.
According to the award’s website, the global drone industry will be worth $8-10 billion by 2025, and will be responsible for more than 100,000 jobs.
Consumer drone sales worldwide are growing rapidly, with Business Insider Intelligence forecasting the market will balloon from 13 million units sold in 2018 to 29 million units in 2021.
The Consumer Technology Association reports that 2.4 million personal drones were sold in the US alone in 2016, double the number sold in America in 2015.