Ahmed Kamel – Egypt Daily News
Egypt is set to host EDEX 2025, one of the Middle East and Africa’s most prominent defense and security exhibitions, with the event scheduled to open on December 1. The four-day expo is expected to attract more than 40,000 visitors, over 450 exhibiting companies and official delegations from more than 80 countries, underscoring its growing influence as a major platform for regional and international defense cooperation.
Held biennially with the support of the Egyptian Armed Forces, EDEX has evolved into a cornerstone event for governments, military leaders, and defense manufacturers seeking to showcase their latest technologies and forge new partnerships. The exhibition features cutting-edge systems across land, sea and air domains, including armored vehicles, naval platforms, unmanned systems, cyber defense solutions and advanced weapons technologies.
Organizers say EDEX 2025 will continue the exhibition’s upward trajectory, with strong representation expected from Middle Eastern, African, European and Asian defense industries. The event has become particularly significant for Türkiye’s defense sector, which views EDEX as a strategic gateway for expanding its presence in African and Arab markets. Turkish companies have consistently been among the top international exhibitors.
Since its debut in 2018, EDEX has witnessed remarkable growth. The inaugural edition featured more than 350 companies from nearly 40 countries. By 2021, the exhibition had expanded to include 21 national pavilions and nearly 400 companies from 42 nations. The 2023 edition saw further momentum, showcasing over 400 defense and security firms from 46 countries. Türkiye ranked second after China in terms of exhibitors, represented by 23 companies.
EDEX’s increasing scale reflects broader trends in regional defense spending, modernization programs, and strategic competition across the Middle East and North Africa. For Egypt, the exhibition serves not only as a hub for military procurement but also as an opportunity to highlight its expanding domestic defense industry and its role as a key security partner in the region.
As EDEX 2025 opens its doors in Cairo, defense officials, industry leaders and military experts from around the world will converge to explore new technologies, discuss evolving security challenges and strengthen cooperation in an increasingly complex global landscape.
