EDGE Group

EDGE Group (Arabic: مجموعة إيدج) is a United Arab Emirates (UAE) state-owned advanced technology and defence conglomerate comprising  25 companies that  provide a diverse portfolio of military and civilian products, services, solutions,  and related technologies.[3] EDGE is one of the world’s advanced technology and defence groups.[4][5]

EDGE Group PJSC[1]
Native name
Arabic: مجموعة إيدج ش.م.ع
TypePublic Joint Stock Company
IndustryAdvanced Technology, Defence
PredecessorEmirates Defence Industries Company
FoundedNovember 5, 2019 (2019-11-05) in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Headquarters
Abu Dhabi
,
United Arab Emirates
Area served
Worldwide
Key people
Faisal Al Bannai (Chairman of the Board of Directors) Mansour AlMulla (Managing Director & CEO)
Number of employees
12,000
Subsidiaries25. See list

[2]

History

The EDGE Group was established on 5 November 2019 by H.E Faisal Al Bannai, and consists of more than 25 entities from the Emirates Defence Industries Company (EDIC), Emirates Advanced Investments Group (EAIG), Tawazun Holding, and other independent organisations, to address the UAE's antiquated defence industry.[3] The Group employs a multi-cultural workforce of approximately 12,000 employees of over 80 nationalities, working across its five core clusters: Platforms & Systems, Missiles & Weapons, Space & Cyber Technologies, Trading & Mission Support, and Homeland Security.[6][7][8]

EDGE was the official Advanced Technology Partner at the Dubai Airshow 2019.[9] The Group's 11 participating entities showcased their wide range of capabilities, which included unmanned aerial vehicles, and long-range munitions including the UAE-made ADASI RW-24. AMMROC also announced its plan to open a maintenance facility at to Al Ain International Airport.[10]

EDGE's entity HALCON signed a US$1 billion contract in November 2019 to deliver its Desert Sting lightweight precision guided missiles to UAE Armed Forces.[11]

Later, GAL, which was part of the Mission Support Cluster within EDGE Group, signed a contract with Kenya’s Ministry of Defence to provide MRO services to the Kenyan Air Force. GAL also signed an AED 3.5 billion support contract with the UAE’s Joint Aviation Command.[12][11]

EDGE joined Tawdheef, the UAE’s leading event for Emiratisation,[13] and the second edition of the biennial Mohamed bin Zayed International Robotics Challenge[14] 2020 (MBZIRC 2020), as the official Advanced Technology Partner in January 2020.[15]

EDGE’s ADASI also launched its made-in-the-UAE VTOL drone at the UMEX exhibition in February 2020.[16]

In December 2020, the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) reported that EDGE had ranked 22nd in the world's largest arms companies list.[17] According to Pieter Wezeman, Senior Researcher with the SIPRI Arms and Military Expenditure Programme: "EDGE is a good illustration of how the combination of high national demand for military products and services with a desire to become less dependent on foreign suppliers is driving the growth of arms companies in the Middle East." The sales of arms and military services by the largest 25 companies totalled US$361 billion in 2019, with EDGE accounting for 1.3 percent of this total.[18] According to DefenseNews.com’s 2021 July report, EDGE Group is the 24th largest defence contractor in the world.[19]

On 31, 2022, Mansour AlMulla was appointed Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of EDGE Group, while H.E Faisal Al Bannai assumed the role of Chairman of the Board.[20]

In the same year, DIGITAL14, a developer of multi-sector innovative and ultra-secure communication solutions, merged into the EDGE and was rebranded as KATIM.[21]

In early 2023, EDGE disclosed that orders for its products and solutions had exceeded US$5 billion for 2022, a third of which was made up of international exports—a 500%[22] year-on-year increase. The group’s expanding global footprint now covers over 30 countries across North and South America, Europe, Asia, and Africa.

The company acquired a majority shareholding in Estonian robotic developer Milrem Robotics on 15 February 2023.[23] Milrem, Europe’s leading developer of robotics and autonomous systems, has been developing unmanned vehicles for both military and civilian use, since 2013.

At the IDEX defence exhibition held in Abu Dhabi in February 2023, EDGE announced over AED18.6 billion worth of contracts,[24][25][26] AED4 billion of which was in exports, including a landmark EUR1 billion export deal with the Angolan Navy to build a fleet of best-in-class 71 metre corvette vessels.[27][28] The group also launched 14 new products including 11 autonomous solutions.[27] Contracts with the UAE Armed Forces at IDEX 2023 totalling AED9 billion were announced for EDGE’s THUNDER and DESERT STING 25 Precision-Guided Munitions;  SHADOW 25 and SHADOW 50; and HUNTER Loitering Munitions;[26] and a contract valued at AED4 billion to provide tactical communications and data-link solutions.[26]

In March 2023, EDGE acquired UAE based Trust International Group, further fortifying its technology and defence portfolio.[29]

In April 2023, EDGE announced the opening of a regional office in the Brazilian capital, Brasilia.[30] In the same month, EDGE Group and the Brazilian Navy signed a cooperation agreement to develop anti-ship and supersonic missiles.[31][32] This was followed by the signing of a strategic partnership agreement which will see EDGE become a strategic partner of the Brazilian Navy by co-investing in the development, as well as providing advanced solutions, such as anti-jamming technology, which is developed by EDGE in the UAE. The Brazilian Navy has committed its fleet to support a full testing programme of the new missiles.

In July 2023, EDGE announced the acquisition of Abu Dhabi-based cybersecurity firm, OryxLabs[33] and the acquisition of a 100% stake in Etimad Holding,[34] a technology solutions, security, and services group, also based in the UAE capital.

Subsidiaries

The groups subsidiaries are classified under four categories.[35]

  • Platforms and Systems
    • ADASI develops autonomous systems such as unmanned aircraft and drones
    • ADSB (Abu Dhabi Ship Building) builds and repairs naval and commercial vessels in their shipyards and work with the UAE navy
    • AL JASOOR supplies an amphibious armoured vehicle
    • AL TAIF provides maintenance and repair services for military ground vehicles
    • NIMR manufactures armoured vehicles
    • EPI is a precision engineering manufacturer for components used in small arms, aerospace, oil and gas industries
  • Missiles and Weapons
    • AL TARIQ converts aerial weapons into long range guided weapons
    • APT manufactures low velocity projectiles and smoke grenades
    • CARACAL manufactures small arms
    • HALCON manufactures guides missile systems
    • LAHAB manufactures munitions and provides training and testing
  • Electronic Warfare and Cyber Technologies
    • BEACON RED provides security training
    • SIGN4L develops electronic and cyber warfare training
  • Trading and Mission Support
    • HORIZON provides helicopter training
    • JAHEZIYA provides emergency response training and certification
    • REMAYA provides shooting ranges and related training and management services.

Capabilities

  • Missiles & Weapons
  • Electronic Warfare
  • Air Platforms
  • Land Systems
  • Naval Systems
  • Cyber Defence & Secure Communications
  • Sub-Systems
  • Training & Services
  • Precision Engineering
  • MRO
  • Homeland Security[36][5]

Awards

On 24 November 2022, EDGE Group was awarded the prestigious ROI-EFESO INDUSTRIE 4.0 Award 2022 in Munich, Germany, in the ‘SMART WORKFORCE’ category for Best Implementation of Industry 4.0 solutions in 2022. ROI-EFESO Management Consulting AG awards the coveted accolade annually to companies that implement forward-looking and successful pioneering solutions in the areas of Smart Factory, Smart Production, Smart Products & Services, and Smart Supply Chain Management.[37]

  • EDGE, one of four global winners, was awarded for its agile, and systematic implementation of multiple Industry 4.0 solutions in 2022.
  • EDGE’s Industry 4.0 ambitious roadmap, fast implementation of 30 projects in 18 months, and its exhaustive upskilling of workforce at the EDGE Learning & Innovation Factory, demonstrate EDGE Industry 4.0 ambitions to become a global lighthouse of modern digitisation.

References

  1. Salian, Neesha (October 1, 2023). "UAE-based Edge Group acquires 50% stake in Brazil's SIATT".
  2. Sharma, Alkesh (September 22, 2023). "UAE's Edge partners with Bulgarian entities as it expands portfolio". The National.
  3. Helou, Agnes (2019-11-06). "UAE launches 'Edge' conglomerate to address its 'antiquated military industry'". Defense News. Retrieved 2023-08-21.
  4. "UAE Defense Firm Weighs Multibillion-Dollar Turkey Investments". October 12, 2023 via www.bloomberg.com.
  5. "UAE's EDGE Group weighs multibillion-dollar Turkey investments". gulfnews.com. October 12, 2023.
  6. Warner, Kelsey (2019-11-20). "Abu Dhabi defence group Edge looks to smart technology to tackle low-tech militants". The National. Retrieved 2023-08-21.
  7. "Could EDGE boost R&D in the UAE?". Wamda. Retrieved 2023-08-21.
  8. Defaiya, Al (2022-11-29). "Al Defaiya | UAE's EDGE Marks Third Anniversary". defaiya.com. Retrieved 2023-08-21.
  9. "DUBAI AIRSHOW ANNOUNCES EDGE AS FIRST EVER ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY PARTNER". www.dubaiairshow.aero. Retrieved 2023-08-21.
  10. "AMMROC unveils state-of-the-art MRO Facility". wam. 2019-11-17. Retrieved 2023-08-21.
  11. "Can EDGE help the UAE build a new market?". Army Technology. 2020-01-23. Retrieved 2020-06-08.
  12. "Will a new domestic defence giant give the UAE an edge in the global market? - Global Defence Technology | Issue 107 | January 2020". defence.nridigital.com. Retrieved 2020-06-08.
  13. "EDGE Joins Tawdheef as Advanced Technology Partner". Construction Business News Middle East. 2020-01-21. Retrieved 2020-07-01.
  14. "Mohamed Bin Zayed International Robotics Challenge (MBZIRC)". GTECH. 2022-05-17. Retrieved 2022-06-03.
  15. "EDGE announced as Advanced Technology Partner for Mohamed bin Zayed International Robotics Challenge 2020, organised by Khalifa University". wam. Retrieved 2020-07-01.
  16. Warner, Kelsey (2020-02-24). "UAE's first locally-made drone unveiled at Umex". The National. Retrieved 2023-09-13.
  17. "SIPRI Arms Industry Database | SIPRI". www.sipri.org. Retrieved 2023-09-13.
  18. "Global arms industry: Sales by the top 25 companies up 8.5 per cent; Big players active in Global South | SIPRI". www.sipri.org. 2020-12-07. Retrieved 2023-09-13.
  19. "Top 100 | Defense News, News about defense programs, business, and technology". people.defensenews.com. Retrieved 2023-09-13.
  20. "EDGE Group announces structural changes to its executive leadership team". wam. 2022-01-31. Retrieved 2023-09-13.
  21. Salian, Neesha (2022-10-05). "EDGE Group rebrands DIGITAL14 as KATIM". Retrieved 2023-09-13.
  22. Darasha, Brinda; ZAWYA. "UAE's EDGE Group secures orders worth $5bln in 2022". www.zawya.com. Retrieved 2023-09-13.
  23. "EDGE acquires majority stake in Milrem Robotics | Defense News February 2023 Global Security army industry | Defense Security global news industry army year 2023 | Archive News year". armyrecognition.com. Retrieved 2023-09-13.
  24. "IDEX 2023: Edge awarded USD2.5 billion munitions contracts". Janes.com. Retrieved 2023-09-13.
  25. McNeil, Harry (2023-02-28). "IDEX 2023: EDGE Group dominates as strategic partner". Army Technology. Retrieved 2023-09-13.
  26. ESD (2023-02-23). "IDEX 2023: EDGE Group entities announce UAE armed forces contracts". euro-sd.com. Retrieved 2023-09-13.
  27. Helou, Agnes (2023-02-21). "EDGE announces $1.1B deal with Angolan navy, unveils 11 new autonomous systems". Breaking Defense. Retrieved 2023-09-13.
  28. Bahtić, Fatima (2023-02-22). "Angolan Navy orders BR71 MKII corvettes from Edge Group under €1bln deal". Naval Today. Retrieved 2023-09-13.
  29. Giovanni (2023-03-28). "EDGE Acquires UAE-Based Trust Group". Defense aerospace. Retrieved 2023-09-13.
  30. Helou, Agnes (2023-04-13). "Emirati defense conglomerate EDGE Group to open first international office in Brazil". Breaking Defense. Retrieved 2023-09-13.
  31. Defesa, Redação Forças de (2023-04-18). "EDGE Group e Marinha do Brasil assinam acordo de cooperação para o desenvolvimento de mísseis". Poder Naval (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 2023-09-13.
  32. "LAAD 2023 - EDGE Group abrirá escritório regional para América Latina no Brasil". DefesaNet (in Brazilian Portuguese). 2023-04-11. Retrieved 2023-09-13.
  33. "EDGE acquires cybersecurity company OryxLabs". DEFSEC. July 6, 2023.
  34. Valpolini, Paolo (2023-07-11). "► EDGE Acquires Etimad Holding, a Major Player in UAE's Security Solutions Space". EDR Magazine. Retrieved 2023-09-13.
  35. "Our Entities | EDGE". edgegroup.ae.
  36. Pligher, Pedro (October 5, 2023). "UAE's Edge Group acquires stake in Brazilian missile maker SIATT". Defense News.
  37. "UAE's EDGE Group Wins Prestigious International Industry 4.0 Award | EDGE". edgegroup.ae. Retrieved 2022-11-28.
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