Mohamed bin Zayed Unveils EDGE: A Cutting-Edge Technology Powerhouse Set to Revolutionize Defense Innovations
His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, has officially launched EDGE, an enterprise dedicated to reshaping the UAE into a significant global contender in advanced technology.
In the wake of the digital age presenting unique challenges and opportunities, EDGE is strategically poised to revolutionize capabilities across a variety of sectors. It starts with groundbreaking innovations in the high-investment defense sector while prioritizing national security. EDGE amalgamates over 25 entities, including subsidiaries from Emirates Defence Industries Company (EDIC), Emirates Advanced Investments Group (EAIG), Tawazun Holding, and other autonomous organizations.
His Excellency Faisal Al Bannai, CEO and Managing Director of EDGE, stated, “EDGE will make significant investments in R&D, collaborating closely with frontline operators to craft and deploy effective solutions for real-world challenges.”
He further added: “The key to tackling hybrid warfare lies at the intersection of innovations from the commercial arena and the military sector. Formulated with a principal mission to disrupt a stagnant military industry often bogged down by bureaucracy, EDGE aims to expedite product market entry at more competitive pricing.”
Al Bannai has been chosen to spearhead EDGE due to his startup experience and proven success in harnessing emerging technologies to broaden business prospects domestically and internationally.
In fostering innovation and growth in advanced technology, EDGE plans to establish deeper collaborations with leading industry OEMs, defense contractors, the SME sector, and academia. By accelerating the innovation pace, it will also attract top industry professionals and talents worldwide, contributing to a wide range of modern product development, from idea generation to enhancing inter-domain capabilities across its five core business domains: Platforms & Systems, Missiles & Weapons, Cyber Defense, Electronic Warfare & Intelligence, and Mission Support.
The company is set to integrate cutting-edge technologies such as autonomous systems, cyber-physical frameworks, the Internet of Things, advanced propulsion mechanisms, robotics, and smart materials, all with an emphasis on artificial intelligence in its product offerings.
Reflecting on EDGE, His Excellency Tareq Abdul Raheem Al Hosani, Chief Executive Officer of Tawazun Economic Council (the UAE’s Defence Enabler), remarked: “We are committed to managing the unpredictability that technology brings by shifting our focus and capabilities towards a sustainable defense and security sector. EDGE will facilitate the transformation of our domestic capacities while expanding our initiatives in defense and security exports.”
In 2018, the UAE secured the top position in the Global Innovation Index for the Arab world. EDGE is determined to assist the UAE in maintaining and enhancing that premier status.
