When and where is UMEX Abu Dhabi held?

UMEX (the Unmanned Systems Exhibition), held alongside SimTEX, is the Middle East's only dedicated platform for unmanned and autonomous systems, organised by ADNEC Group with the UAE Ministry of Defence at ADNEC Centre Abu Dhabi. Importantly, UMEX is a biennial event held in even years: the seventh and largest edition took place from 20 to 22 January 2026, and the next edition follows in 2028 — there is no 2027 edition. The show spans Defence and Commercial zones covering aerial, ground, surface and underwater unmanned systems, counter-UAS, AI, robotics and simulation. SOL Dubai builds at ADNEC and handles the cross-emirate logistics and venue approvals for you ahead of the next edition.

Can you build secure stands for high-value defence hardware?

Yes — it is central to our UMEX work, and our role is entirely the stand, its display and its security, never the systems themselves. High-value hardware needs engineered platforms rated for its weight, secure and lockable display and storage, and dramatic, focused lighting that presents systems impressively. Where you need confidential conversations, we build private meeting and briefing rooms with proper visual and acoustic separation. We prepare the structural, electrical and rigging documentation ADNEC requires, including hanging points for aerial systems where needed, and we coordinate build-up so your hardware is delivered and staged securely on schedule. We handle this work with the discretion defence and government exhibitors expect.

Do you build exhibition stands in Abu Dhabi?

Yes. While we are a Dubai-based exhibition stand builder, we design and build across the Emirates, including at ADNEC in Abu Dhabi. We handle the full project start to finish — concept and 3D design, fabrication, ADNEC approval submissions, cross-emirate logistics, on-site installation and dismantling — as one accountable team. Abu Dhabi is roughly 90 minutes from our Dubai base, and ADNEC's venue requirements and approvals differ from a Dubai show, so we manage all of it for you. For a defence or unmanned-systems exhibitor at UMEX, that gives you a single, accountable team with the discretion and engineering capability a high-stakes Abu Dhabi build requires.

How much does a UMEX stand cost?

Custom UMEX stand design and build with SOL Dubai starts from AED 1,650 per square metre. Defence and unmanned-systems stands are shaped by the scale and security of hardware display — engineered platforms, rigging for aerial systems, lockable secure storage — along with private briefing space, capability AV, the size of your space, cross-emirate logistics to Abu Dhabi and branding. A compact secure display sits nearer the entry rate, while a major prime's pavilion with extensive hardware and briefing suites costs considerably more. We provide a fixed, fully itemised quotation once we understand your hardware and objectives, with the Abu Dhabi logistics built in transparently.

How tall can my UMEX Abu Dhabi stand be, and do I need structural approval?

ADNEC treats anything over 4m, double-decker, or with a platform of 600mm or more as a complex structure needing engineer-stamped structural calculations and approval before build. We handle the full submission under ADNEC’s rules and the Abu Dhabi construction-safety code.

Who handles the ADNEC Centre Abu Dhabi permits and approvals?

We do, start to finish — ADNEC’s technical approval under the Abu Dhabi construction-safety code and OSHAD, with Civil Defence inspection handled on site. You don’t deal with the venue’s technical desk.

Can I get power and 24-hour supply for my stand?

Mains power is supplied through the venue’s appointed electrical contractor and ordered ahead. We design the lighting and power scheme and order it for you, including 24-hour supply where your stand needs it.

Can I hang a banner or lighting rig above my stand?

Yes, but suspended rigging is subject to venue approval and load limits and must be ordered ahead of tenancy. We design within the limits and file the rigging order on time so it’s approved without a last-minute surcharge.

How much does a UMEX Abu Dhabi stand cost?

A full-service UMEX Abu Dhabi stand starts from AED 950/sqm for a modular build, AED 1,650/sqm for a bespoke custom stand, and AED 2,400/sqm and up for large or double-decker builds. Every quote is fixed and all-inclusive with a free 3D concept.

When is UMEX Abu Dhabi and how early should I book?

UMEX Abu Dhabi returns in 2027 (exact dates to be confirmed). Because the best stand positions and production slots go early, we recommend starting 8–14 weeks ahead — earlier for a large or double-decker build.

What’s included in a full-service UMEX Abu Dhabi stand?

Everything to get you show-ready on one quote: custom 3D design, in-house fabrication and pre-build approval, full graphics, delivery to ADNEC Centre Abu Dhabi, install and dismantle, ADNEC approvals and OSHAD paperwork, electrical and rigging ordered on your behalf, and a dedicated project manager.

Do you build double-decker stands at ADNEC Centre Abu Dhabi?

Yes — double-deckers are a specialism. A two-storey stand roughly adds 1.5 times your usable space with an upstairs lounge or meeting floor, and needs certified structural calculations, a displayed maximum-occupancy figure and code-compliant staircases (engineer-stamped calculations under the Abu Dhabi construction-safety code). We engineer, certify and build it in-house.

Do you provide on-site support during UMEX Abu Dhabi?

Yes. Our team is on call across all show days for anything from a graphic touch-up to an electrical or AV fix, and larger stands get a dedicated on-site project lead.

What happens to the stand after UMEX Abu Dhabi?

We dismantle and clear the space, and can store reusable elements for your next edition and refresh the graphics — so you’re not paying to rebuild from scratch each year.

UMEX Abu Dhabi Exhibition Stand Builders

UMEX Abu Dhabi at a glance

UMEX (the Unmanned Systems Exhibition), held alongside SimTEX (the Simulation and Training Exhibition), is the Middle East's only dedicated platform for unmanned and autonomous systems, organised by ADNEC Group in collaboration with the UAE Ministry of Defence at ADNEC Centre Abu Dhabi. UMEX runs biennially: the seventh and largest edition took place 20–22 January 2026, with the International Defence Conference the day before, and the next edition follows in 2028 — there is no 2027 edition.

The show is structured into Defence and Commercial zones, spanning unmanned aerial, ground, surface and underwater vehicles (UAVs, UGVs, USVs, UUVs), counter-UAS systems, AI and robotics, ISR platforms and simulation and training. Its recent edition drew 387-plus exhibitors from 39 countries across 40,000 square metres, with military officials, government bodies, investors and commercial operators in attendance.

UMEX is in Abu Dhabi, not Dubai, and a defence and technology stand here carries particular requirements around secure display, demonstration and high-level meetings. SOL Dubai builds across the UAE, including Abu Dhabi, handling ADNEC approvals, cross-emirate logistics and on-site installation as one coordinated service.

What a UMEX stand has to do

This is a high-stakes, technology-led show where exhibitors present advanced unmanned and autonomous systems to military, government and commercial decision-makers. The stand has to display often sophisticated, high-value hardware impressively and securely, support technical demonstration, and provide private, secure space for the high-level meetings that define defence and government business.

Credibility and security are paramount. Buyers here make significant, sometimes classified, procurement decisions, and the stand has to project the seriousness and capability of a defence-grade supplier while protecting sensitive displays and conversations. The strongest UMEX stands combine impressive, secure hardware display with private meeting and briefing space. We design for both the showcase and the confidential conversation.

Our UMEX stand build process

High-value, secure-display stands leave no room for improvisation, so every project runs through our structured eight-stage process:

Discovery and brief — we map your hardware, its display, power and security needs, demonstration ambitions, private-meeting requirements and budget, and confirm hall, stand number and dimensions at ADNEC.
Concept and 3D design — photorealistic visuals showing secure hardware display, demonstration zones, private meeting and briefing space and visitor flow.
Costing and approval — a fixed, fully itemised quotation covering structure, AV, security features and cross-emirate logistics.
Venue approvals and technical drawings — structural, electrical and rigging submissions prepared for ADNEC approval.
Fabrication — display platforms, secure and private areas, structure and branding built and quality-checked under our control.
Pre-build and QA — trial assembly, AV and lighting integration and testing before transport.
On-site installation — supervised build at ADNEC during official build-up, coordinated with hardware delivery, handed over show-ready.
Show-day support and dismantling — standby team on call in Abu Dhabi, then clean dismantling and clearance.

Materials and construction

Defence and unmanned-systems stands combine impressive display with security and engineering. We build load-bearing platforms engineered for the weight of UAVs, ground vehicles and hardware, with dramatic, focused lighting that presents high-value systems at their best; secure and lockable display and storage for sensitive equipment; and private meeting and briefing rooms with the visual and acoustic separation high-level conversations require.

Engineered structures provide height, presence and hanging points for aerial systems where needed. Large-format screens and AV present capability and ISR data, raised platform flooring conceals substantial power and cabling, and a precise, premium finish projects defence-grade credibility throughout.

Defence and unmanned-systems stand requirements

UMEX exhibitors carry distinctive needs: secure, impressive display of high-value hardware including aerial, ground, surface and underwater systems; engineered platforms and rigging for that hardware; private, secure meeting and briefing space for high-level government and military conversations; and dramatic presentation that signals defence-grade capability. Demonstration zones and AV to present ISR and autonomous capability are often required.

We design for all of it — engineered and secure hardware display, lockable storage, private briefing rooms, dramatic lighting and capability AV — and we manage the ADNEC approval and cross-emirate logistics an Abu Dhabi build requires. Our focus is entirely on the stand, its display and its security — the physical platform for your systems and conversations, never the systems themselves.

Stand options and pricing

We build every UMEX format. Compact stands give smaller suppliers a secure, professional hardware display and a meeting point. Custom single-storey stands give a bespoke layout with engineered display platforms, demonstration zones and private meeting and briefing rooms. Larger pavilion and double-decker stands suit major defence and technology primes wanting extensive hardware display, secure briefing suites and an upstairs hospitality or meeting floor.

Custom UMEX stand design and build starts from AED 1,650 per square metre, with the final figure shaped by the scale and security of hardware display, engineered platforms and rigging, private briefing space, AV, cross-emirate logistics and branding. Every quotation is fixed and itemised, and full-service delivery gives you one accountable team handling design, build and the Abu Dhabi logistics from concept through dismantling.

Why defence and technology brands choose SOL Dubai for Abu Dhabi

We are a UAE exhibition stand builder that designs and builds across the Emirates, including Abu Dhabi, handling ADNEC stands start to finish — design, fabrication, the venue approval process, cross-emirate logistics and on-site installation. Secure, hardware-led stands with private briefing space and engineered display are exactly the kind of work our in-house team is set up for.

Clients get in-house build quality, a single accountable team, discretion, and a price that holds from quotation to final invoice. For defence, unmanned-systems and autonomous-technology brands presenting at the region's only dedicated show, our local presence and full-service control keep a high-stakes, security-conscious build predictable and on budget.