On behalf of the Ministry of Defence and the UAE Government as a whole, it is my pleasure to welcome you to the inaugural International Defence Industry, Technology and Security Conference (IDITSC) held on the 2nd and 3rd of March 2022 at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC), in the UAE.

As a Ministry and as a nation, we believe this conference is set to touch upon many of the relevant topics within defence, technology, and their overlap in our world today.

The UAE stands as a nation focused on the successful development of its own nation, as well as progressive countries around the world. IDITSC has been formulated to allow leaders from the international defence industry, policymakers, leading technology researchers and academics, as well as international defence technology security (DTS) experts to gather and exchange knowledge.

The multi-track agenda is set to delve into the latest research and advances in the critical technology areas of Robotics and Autonomous Systems, Space, Quantum Technologies, Artificial Intelligence and other Emerging Technologies.

Across the world, countries are seeking to boost their investment in domestic manufacturing and intellectual property development in a bid to establish sovereign capabilities. The UAE is no different in this respect, with collaboration, transparency, and imagination being central themes to the nation's bid to establish a knowledge society, which extends to our defence sector.

We hope IDITSC will stand as an opportunity for important discussions on the role and direction of technological innovation in the defence sector to take place.

I look forward to welcoming you to Abu Dhabi at the beginning of March, wish you safe travels, and hope you benefit from this unique interaction with your peers.