NAVDEX 2027 Explained: Marina Hall, Vessel Berths, NAVDEX Talks and How the Naval Show Works With IDEX
NAVDEX 2027, the naval defence and maritime security exhibition, runs alongside IDEX from 25 to 29 January 2027 in Abu Dhabi. This guide covers its halls, vessel berths, talks, visitor rules and 2025 results.
NAVDEX 2027, the Naval Defence & Maritime Security Exhibition, runs from 25 to 29 January 2027 at ADNEC Centre Abu Dhabi. It is the show's ninth edition, according to the official NAVDEX website. NAVDEX is the naval show held alongside the International Defence Exhibition and Conference (IDEX), with its own halls and vessel berths on the waterfront. ADNEC Group organises both shows, in association with the Ministry of Defence and Tawazun Council.
This page covers NAVDEX itself. For IDEX, see our IDEX 2027 exhibitor guide.
NAVDEX 2027 key facts
| Item | NAVDEX 2027 |
|---|---|
| Full name | Naval Defence & Maritime Security Exhibition (NAVDEX) |
| Edition | Ninth |
| Dates | 25 to 29 January 2027 |
| Opening hours | 9am to 5pm, as listed on the NAVDEX website |
| Venue | ADNEC Centre Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UAE) |
| NAVDEX area | Hall 15, Marina Hall and vessel berths, across Al Khaleej Al Arabi Street from the main halls |
| Organiser | ADNEC Group, in association with the Ministry of Defence and Tawazun Council |
| Runs alongside | IDEX 2027, on the same dates at the same venue |
| Focus | Naval defence, maritime security and advanced maritime technologies |
| Visitor entry | Free online pre-registration on the joint IDEX and NAVDEX 2027 form; no onsite registration |
| Official website | navdex.ae |
IDEX and NAVDEX 2027 also appear in our defence, aerospace and tech show calendar.
NAVDEX 2027 sectors and exhibits
NAVDEX covers naval defence, maritime security and advanced maritime technologies. The exhibition shows naval systems, maritime equipment, vessel technologies and specialised solutions for naval operations. The organiser calls NAVDEX 2027 "The global stage for naval defence innovation and collaboration."
The NAVDEX website lists Aerospace and Land beside Naval as sectors. Co-located with IDEX, the show offers what the organiser calls "a comprehensive platform for land, air, naval, and maritime defence".
The joint visitor registration form asks which products visitors want to source. Its options include shipbuilders, anti-piracy technologies, sonar and radar systems, and air-to-ground and coastal defence systems.
At the 2025 edition, ADNEC Group highlighted two naval platforms: the FA-400 offshore patrol vessel and the Milkor IPC.
Who NAVDEX 2027 brings together
The organiser lists six groups that visitors will meet at NAVDEX 2027. OEMs are original equipment manufacturers.
| Group | Organiser's description |
|---|---|
| Naval and Military Leaders | Naval commanders, senior military officers, chiefs of navy and armed forces representatives |
| Government Procurement Officials | Ministries, procurement authorities and official delegations |
| Naval Manufacturers and OEMs | Prime contractors, shipyards and system integrators |
| Ports & Critical Infrastructure | Operators securing ports, terminals and offshore assets |
| Unmanned & Subsea Tech | Technology companies developing autonomous vessels, naval electronics and next-generation maritime capabilities |
| Media & Analysts | Defence publications and industry analysts |
Hall 15, Marina Hall and the NAVDEX waterfront
NAVDEX has its own area on the waterfront, across Al Khaleej Al Arabi Street from the main ADNEC halls. The table follows the organiser's 2027 floor plan, last updated on 14 September 2026. The plan is subject to change without prior notice.
| Area | What the 2027 floor plan shows |
|---|---|
| Hall 15 | A hall with exhibition stands, next to the Inauguration Area |
| Marina Hall | A hall with exhibition stands, NAVDEX Talks and the NAVDEX Delegation Lounge |
| Inauguration Area | An open area beside Hall 15 |
| Slipway | At the far end of the NAVDEX area |
| Waterfront | A walkway in front of Hall 15, with berths labelled "Visiting Vessel" and "Exhibiting Vessel" along the water |
| Link to the main halls | A footbridge to the Marina Bridge Lobby, beside a staircase and lift building |
Marina Hall sits on the waterfront at ADNEC Marina. It has a floor area of 10,000 sqm (square metres) and a ceiling height of 10 metres, according to ADNEC Centre Abu Dhabi. The venue says the hall "can incorporate activities and showcases both on and off the water".
Vessel berths and live demonstrations at NAVDEX
The organiser promotes NAVDEX "with live vessels berthed alongside the exhibition".
The 2027 floor plan shows two kinds of berth. Large "Visiting Vessel" berths line the NAVDEX waterfront. Smaller "Exhibiting Vessel" berths sit on a structure that reaches out into the water.
For the 2025 edition, ADNEC Group announced "a dedicated space for international warships at ADNEC Marina". Vessels and maritime systems were exhibited at ADNEC Marina and Zayed Port in 2025, according to ADNEC Group's closing release.
Live demonstrations are one of three NAVDEX 2027 "Experiences", with NAVDEX Talks and the exhibition. They show naval systems and maritime defence technologies in action. At NAVDEX 2025, "High-speed naval vessels executed precise interceptions and synchronized movements", ADNEC Group reported. The 2025 demonstrations also included a firefighter on a flyboard, simulating an emergency.
NAVDEX Talks and other NAVDEX 2027 features
NAVDEX Talks is the show's programme of talks. It runs for three days, and the 2027 floor plan places it inside Marina Hall. Its topics include next-generation naval capabilities, emerging technologies, operational readiness, strategic partnerships and industry innovation. The organiser says it "brings together influential voices from the global naval defence and maritime security communities".
The IDEX website lists IDEX & NAVDEX Talks among its 2027 features. On 13 November 2026, the NAVDEX Talks agenda listed no sessions yet.
ADNEC Group reported these NAVDEX Talks subjects in 2025:
| Date (2025) | NAVDEX 2025 session |
|---|---|
| 18 February | "Digital Twin Technology", on how "AI-driven innovations are transforming naval shipbuilding and lifecycle management" |
| 20 February | A naval shipbuilding session on "Maritime Industry 4.0", covering big data, artificial intelligence (AI) and enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems |
| 20 February | Geopolitics and global supply chains, stressing "the strategic significance of maritime trade routes" |
Delegation lounge, Show Daily and official publications
Marina Hall also houses the NAVDEX Delegation Lounge, according to the 2027 floor plan. NAVDEX has its own Show Daily, which covers each day's announcements, highlights and stories. Al Jundi, Nation Shield and Defence Arabia are listed as 2027 media partners.
IDEX 2027 and NAVDEX 2027 have separate event guides. The organiser's Official Publications Partner contacts exhibitors about their entries in three official publications. These are the Official Event Preview, the Official Event Guide and the Official Pocket Map.
How NAVDEX 2027 runs alongside IDEX 2027
NAVDEX and IDEX share their dates, venue and organiser. NAVDEX has its own website, edition numbering and halls. The IDEX website places NAVDEX in "The IDEX Defence Ecosystem", with the International Defence Conference (IDC), IDEX NXT and the CBRNE Hub. CBRNE stands for chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear and explosive. Our IDEX guide covers those IDEX features.
| Topic | How IDEX 2027 and NAVDEX 2027 compare |
|---|---|
| Dates and venue | Same: 25 to 29 January 2027, ADNEC Centre Abu Dhabi |
| Organiser | Same: ADNEC Group, in association with the Ministry of Defence and Tawazun Council |
| Visitor registration | One form for both, labelled "IDEX and NAVDEX 2027" |
| Directions and parking | Same Park & Ride, taxi and car park directions |
| Interactive map | Same 2027 interactive map |
| Sponsors and partners | Same five 2027 sponsors and partners on both home pages |
| Talks | NAVDEX Talks on navdex.ae; IDEX & NAVDEX Talks among the IDEX 2027 features on idexuae.ae |
| Floor plan | Main halls up to Hall 14 on one side of the street; Hall 15, Marina Hall and the berths on the other |
| Live demonstrations | NAVDEX: "live demonstrations of advanced vessels, maritime systems and defence technologies". IDEX: flying and land demonstrations at Tilal Swaihan, by invitation only. |
Getting between the main halls and the NAVDEX waterfront
A footbridge links the main halls to the NAVDEX area across Al Khaleej Al Arabi Street. On the 2027 floor plan, it lands at the Marina Bridge Lobby, beside a staircase and lift building.
Four car parks serve sticker holders. The organiser's directions for two of them mention Marina Hall:
| Car park | Sticker colour | Organiser's directions |
|---|---|---|
| ADNEC Car Parking D | Blue | Easy access to Marina Hall; entrance on Al Khaleej Al Arabi Street |
| ADNEC Marina Car Parking E | Yellow | Immediately after ADNEC Marina Hall; accessed from Al Khaleej Al Arabi Street |
Taxi, Uber and Careem passengers can ask for Marina Car Park D or Point F in the embassies area. Visitors without a parking sticker can use the Park & Ride service. Its points are Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, Nation Towers and Sas Al Nakhl. Bus 040 serves ADNEC Centre Abu Dhabi seven days a week, according to the venue.
NAVDEX 2027 visitor registration and badges
NAVDEX and IDEX share one visitor registration form, labelled "IDEX and NAVDEX 2027". Registration is free and online only, and each registration goes through an approval process. Onsite registration is not possible.
How to register for NAVDEX 2027:
- Open the official visitor registration form, linked from navdex.ae.
- Use a colour photo that shows your face clearly and is no more than six months old.
- Use valid passport, visa or ID documents that show the expiry date clearly.
- Wait for your registration to be approved.
- Print your badge at home, in colour, before you arrive at ADNEC Centre Abu Dhabi.
Each person gets one badge, which can be printed up to three times. Each registrant confirms they are 18 years old or older.
Media applicants use a separate media registration form. Media passes are only for people providing media coverage. Proof can be a media ID or an official invitation from ADNEC.
NAVDEX editions and 2025 results
NAVDEX 2027 is the ninth edition. The eighth took place in February 2025.
| Milestone | Detail |
|---|---|
| NAVDEX 2025 | Eighth edition, held 17 to 21 February 2025 at ADNEC Centre Abu Dhabi, according to ADNEC Group |
| NAVDEX 2027 | Ninth edition, 25 to 29 January 2027 |
| Years on the water | 16, according to the NAVDEX home page |
| Frequency | IDEX, which NAVDEX runs alongside, takes place every two years |
| IDEX origins | IDEX dates back to 1993, according to ADNEC Group |
ADNEC Group published these results on 21 February 2025. Apart from the naval fleets, the figures cover IDEX and NAVDEX 2025 together.
| Measure | 2025 edition, according to ADNEC Group |
|---|---|
| NAVDEX 2025 naval fleets | From eight nations |
| IDEX and NAVDEX 2025 visitors | 206,073, up 55.5% on the previous edition |
| IDEX and NAVDEX 2025 exhibiting companies | 1,565 from 65 countries, a 16% increase |
| IDEX and NAVDEX 2025 exhibition space | 181,501 square metres, up 10% |
NAVDEX 2027 stands by Orchestra Media
Orchestra Media is headquartered in Dubai, and IDEX is one of the key shows covered by our UAE office. Our team works from seven offices on five continents.
We start with one question: what must this show make possible for your business? Your objectives then guide the decisions.
Defence is one of our specialist sectors, where stands have to work for official delegations and complex displays.
IDEX and NAVDEX 2025 hosted 41 national pavilions, according to ADNEC Group. Our stand design and build work includes national pavilions. At the World Defense Show in Riyadh, our team delivered the 351 sqm national defence pavilion for Azersilah Defence Industry Holding. The project ran from initial concept and 3D design renders to full construction and on-site installation.
Our services cover stand design and build, multimedia, logistics and hospitality.
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Exhibiting at NAVDEX 2027? Book a consultation with our team.
How we compiled this guide
We compiled this guide from official sources only. These are the NAVDEX and IDEX websites, the joint registration forms and the organiser's 2027 floor plan. We also used ADNEC Group press releases and the ADNEC Centre Abu Dhabi website. We checked every source on 13 November 2026. Details can change, so check the official NAVDEX website before travelling.
Sources
- NAVDEX official website, home page (2027 dates, edition, hours, organiser, sector cards, audience groups, experiences, years on the water, sponsors, interactive map): https://www.navdex.ae/en
- NAVDEX, About NAVDEX (description, audience, co-location with IDEX): https://www.navdex.ae/en/about-navdex
- NAVDEX, Why Visit (live demonstrations): https://www.navdex.ae/en/why-visit
- NAVDEX, Plan Your Visit (badge printing, Park & Ride, taxi drop-off, car parks D and E): https://www.navdex.ae/en/why-visit/plan-your-visit
- NAVDEX, NAVDEX Talks (programme and topics): https://www.navdex.ae/en/navdex-talks
- NAVDEX, NAVDEX Talks Agenda (no sessions listed on 13 November 2026): https://www.navdex.ae/en/navdex-talks/agenda
- NAVDEX, 2027 NAVDEX Show Daily: https://www.navdex.ae/en/media/2027-navdex-show-daily
- NAVDEX, 2027 Event Guide (official publications): https://www.navdex.ae/en/media/2027-event-guide
- NAVDEX, Media Partners 2027: https://www.navdex.ae/en/media/media-partners-2027
- IDEX official website, home page (2027 dates, IDEX Defence Ecosystem, sponsors, interactive map): https://www.idexuae.ae/en
- IDEX, About IDEX (co-location, biennial): https://www.idexuae.ae/en/about-idex
- IDEX, Features (IDEX & NAVDEX Talks): https://www.idexuae.ae/en/features
- IDEX, IDEX Live Demonstration (Tilal Swaihan): https://www.idexuae.ae/en/features/idex-live-demostration-show
- IDEX, FAQ (registration and badge rules): https://www.idexuae.ae/en/contact-us/faq
- IDEX, Plan Your Visit (same directions as NAVDEX): https://www.idexuae.ae/en/why-visit/plan-your-visit
- IDEX and NAVDEX 2027 floor plan, last updated 14 September 2026 (NAVDEX halls, berths, footbridge): https://www.idexuae.ae/en/why-exhibit/download-floor-plan
- IDEX and NAVDEX 2027 visitor registration form: https://registration.xporience.com/registration/?badge_name=visitor&token=iqxdPZS109Fjyss
- IDEX and NAVDEX 2027 media registration form: https://registration.xporience.com/registration/?badge_name=media&token=yeFaTLoFg8wxIVK
- ADNEC Centre Abu Dhabi, Marina Hall (location, size, footbridge): https://www.adnec.ae/en/space-listing/adnec-marina-hall
- ADNEC Centre Abu Dhabi, Getting here (bus 040): https://www.adnec.ae/en/visit/getting-here
- ADNEC Group, IDEX and NAVDEX 2025 closing release, 21 February 2025 (eighth edition, fleets, ADNEC Marina and Zayed Port, 2025 figures): https://www.adnecgroup.ae/news-media/news/details/idex-and-navdex-2025-conclude-with-record-breaking-and-historic-results-garnering-widespread-international-acclaim-from-exhibitors-and-official-delegations
- ADNEC Group, IDEX and NAVDEX 2025 opening release, 17 February 2025 (warship space, national pavilions): https://www.adnecgroup.ae/news-media/news/details/idex-and-navdex-2025-kicks-off-in-abu-dhabi-marking-its-largest-and-most-advanced-edition
- ADNEC Group, day two release, 18 February 2025 (NAVDEX Demonstrations, digital twin session): https://www.adnecgroup.ae/news-media/news/details/idex-and-navdex-2025-day-two-concludes-with-major-deals-cutting-edge-technologies-and-high-impact-demonstrations
- ADNEC Group, day four release, 20 February 2025 (NAVDEX 2025 sessions): https://www.adnecgroup.ae/news-media/news/details/idex-and-navdex-day-4-highlights
- ADNEC Group, 2025 innovations release, 20 February 2025 (naval platforms, 1993 inception): https://www.adnecgroup.ae/news-media/news/details/idex-navdex-2025-spotlight-groundbreaking-defence-innovations
- Orchestra Media, Global presence (UAE office shows): https://orchestra.media/global-presence
- Orchestra Media, Azersilah success story: https://orchestra.media/success-stories/azersilah
- Orchestra Media, Booth design and construction: https://orchestra.media/services/booth-design-construction
- Orchestra Media, Extra services (multimedia): https://orchestra.media/services/extra-services
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