Eight warships from seven countries arrived at the Doha Commercial Port, signalling the start of the Doha International Maritime Defence Exhibition and Conference (Dimdex) 2016 from Tuesday.

HH the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani will officially inaugurate the three-day event at the Qatar National Convention Centre (QNCC).

Ships from the UK, the US, France, Italy, India, Morocco, and Pakistan comprised of various classes including a destroyer, frigates, fast-attack craft and an amphibious transport dock, which will take part in this year’s Dimdex.

Organised by the Qatar Armed Forces, the biennial event is considered the leading specialised maritime naval defence and security exhibition in the Middle East and North Africa region.

Speaking at a press conference, Dimdex chairman Brig Dr Thani A al-Kuwari said that 10 Defence Ministers, 10 Chief of Staffs, and 10 Navy Base Commanders, including a delegation from Iran, will also take part in the event.

‘This is the best year we have in this exhibition in terms of capacity, exhibitors, and size of showroom. It is way beyond our expectation,’ said Brig Dr (Eng) al-Kuwari, who is expecting a large number of visitors from across the world.

The exhibition area at QNCC occupies 25,000sqm, featuring international and local companies showcasing their latest maritime and defence technologies.

More than 60 countries are participating this year and country pavilions include Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Pakistan, Qatar, Spain, Sweden, Turkey, UK and the US.

‘The Middle East Naval Commanders Conference will be taking place tomorrow and we are pleased to see military and academic speakers this year,’ Brig Dr (Eng) al-Kuwari said.

Sessions at the exhibition will focus mainly on the environment (and some challenges), maritime technology in the region, internal security and the protection of important infrastructures. Other activities will also include warship crew sports tournament at Qatar Sports Club.

‘Dimdex is primarily a business event supporting Qatar’s vision of a world-class commercial hub, and will connect our military guests to a large number of prestigious international defence companies presenting the latest advanced security and defence technologies,’ Brig Dr (Eng) al-Kuwari said.

Beside the organised visits for the public and industry professionals to the warships, students (18 and above) from various universities and schools will have the opportunity to come aboard technologically advanced vessels.

About Qatar’s military spending amid the oil price slowdown, the Dimdex chairman said enhancing the country’s military capability has been a priority of the government.

‘Not only Qatar but almost everywhere, they try to boost their military especially with what is happening now in some parts of the world,’ he stressed.

About inviting more ships to come to Doha for the Dimdex, he said sending a warship is not an easy thing, ‘that is why vessels which come are those already in the vicinity and not all the way from the US for example.’