Latest news with #MatarAliAlRomaithi
Gulf Today
21-05-2025
- Business
- Gulf Today
UAE enhances manufacturing through industrial excellence
Tawazun Council and Thales have signed a cooperation agreement to locally produce advanced Ground Master series air surveillance radars. This agreement supports the UAE's vision to boost local manufacturing and develop national defence capabilities. The signing took place on the second day of the 'Make it in the Emirates 2025,' with Matar Ali Al Romaithi, Sector Chief of Defence and Security Industry Affairs at Tawazun Council, and Abdelhafid Mordi, CEO of Thales in the UAE, in attendance alongside representatives from both sides. This reflects Thales' commitment to supporting the UAE's vision of advancing manufacturing capabilities through innovation and industrial excellence. The Ground Master radars are internationally recognised for their reliability, superior performance, rapid deployability, and adaptability to diverse missions, positioning them amongst the world's leading air surveillance and defence systems. The facility is scheduled to be fully operational by 2027, where it will assemble, test, and qualify advanced air surveillance radars to meet both domestic and export markets' needs. The factory will serve as a strategic asset, bolstering the UAE's defence manufacturing capabilities, enhancing self-sufficiency in critical technologies, and providing flexibility to address varying operational requirements. A core pillar of Thales Radar Centre of Excellence's expansion is the development of Emirati talent. Thales places localisation at the heart of its growth strategy through advanced training programmes and sustainable professional career development, building specialised local expertise in advanced radar technologies in support of the UAE's National Defence Strategy and its vision of a highly capable, future-ready national workforce. As the project is not only focused on building the radar system but also on qualifying domestic suppliers, it further contributes to strengthening the national industrial base and promoting long-term self-reliance. Commenting on the agreement, Al Romaithi said, 'The expansion of Thales' Radar Centre of Excellence reflects the strength of the UAE's defence industrial strategy and its regional leadership in advanced technologies. This initiative enhances national capabilities in air surveillance radar systems while creating significant opportunities for local companies to grow, innovate, and compete globally.' For his part, Mordi said, 'Thales is proud to contribute to the growth of the UAE's industrial defence ecosystem by advancing local capabilities, in-line with the national vision. The expansion of our Radar Centre of Excellence, through the establishment of a new production facility, marks a major milestone - from integration, testing, manufacturing to lifecycle support. 'This investment reinforces the UAE's sovereignty in critical defence technologies, strengthens the national supply chain, embarks UAE talents and deepens local expertise in advanced radar systems.' Earlier Tawazun Council and Airbus announced, during the Make it in the Emirates 2025, the strengthening of their strategic partnership through the launch of a national industrial capability development programme in the aerospace sector. Tawazun Council and Airbus strengthen partnership to manufacture C295 fuel tanks in UAE. The initiative aims to manufacture and supply Cargo Compartment Removable Tanks (CCRTs) in collaboration with EPI, a subsidiary of EDGE Group. In the presence of Dr. Nasser Humaid Al Nuaimi, Secretary-General of Tawazun Council, the agreement was signed by Shareef Hashim Al Hashmi, CEO of Operations at Tawazun Council, and Gabriel Semelas, President of Airbus for Africa and the Middle East, in the presence of representatives from both sides. The programme aligns with the UAE's vision to expand its industrial footprint within global aerospace and defence supply chains by developing and producing mobile, multi-role fuel tanks for cargo compartments. These tanks will support aerial refuelling, ground support and extended-range missions with high efficiency. The initiative falls under the UAE's Tawazun Economic Programme, one of Tawazun Council's key strategic tools aimed at boosting local content and promoting technology transfer in the aviation and defence sectors. As part of this effort, the Council is supporting the exclusive serial production of this type of removable fuel tank over the next five years. The project involves Airbus Defence and Space sourcing from EPI to manufacture and assemble aerostructures and sub-assemblies, and to certify specialised production processes. Once fully developed, EPI will serve as the sole source supplier for these components, reinforcing the UAE's growing role as a key industrial partner in the aerospace and defence sectors.
Zawya
21-05-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Tawazun Council and Thales sign agreement to establish Ground Master air surveillance radar production facility in UAE
As part of the Tawazun Economic Program, Thales Emarat Technologies announces its investment in a state-of-the-art factory to produce Ground Master series air surveillance radars. A strategic cooperation agreement signed between Tawazun Council and Thales aims to strengthen partnership and support local production. Abu Dhabi – Tawazun Council and Thales, have signed a cooperation agreement to locally produce advanced Ground Master series air surveillance radars. This agreement supports the UAE's vision to boost local manufacturing and develop national defence capabilities. The signing took place on the second day of the fourth edition of "Make it in the Emirates 2025," with Matar Ali Al Romaithi, Sector Chief of Defence and Security Industry Affairs at Tawazun Council, and Abdelhafid Mordi, CEO of Thales in the UAE, in attendance alongside representatives from both sides. This reflects Thales' commitment to supporting the UAE's vision of advancing manufacturing capabilities through innovation and industrial excellence. The Ground Master radars are internationally recognized for their reliability, superior performance, rapid deployability, and adaptability to diverse missions, positioning them amongst the world's leading air surveillance and defence systems. The facility is scheduled to be fully operational by 2027, where it will assemble, test, and qualify advanced air surveillance radars to meet both domestic and export markets needs. The factory will serve as a strategic asset, bolstering the UAE's defence manufacturing capabilities, enhancing self-sufficiency in critical technologies, and providing flexibility to address varying operational requirements. A core pillar of Thales Radar Centre of Excellence's expansion is the development of Emirati talents. Thales places localization at the heart of its growth strategy through advanced training programs and sustainable professional career development, building specialized local expertise in advanced radar technologies in support of the UAE's National Defence Strategy and its vision of a highly capable, future-ready national workforce. As the project is not only focused on building the radar system, but also on qualifying domestic suppliers, it further contributes to strengthening the national industrial base and promoting long-term self-reliance. Commenting on the agreement, Matar Ali AL ROMAITHI, Sector Chief of Defence and Security Industry Affairs at Tawazun Council, said: 'The expansion of Thales' Radar Centre of Excellence reflects the strength of the UAE's defence industrial strategy and its regional leadership in advanced technologies. This initiative enhances national capabilities in air surveillance radar systems while creating significant opportunities for local companies to grow, innovate, and compete globally.' Abdelhafid MORDI, CEO of Thales in the UAE said: 'Thales is proud to contribute to the growth of the UAE's industrial defence ecosystem by advancing local capabilities, in-line with the national vision. The expansion of our Radar Centre of Excellence, through the establishment of a new production facility, marks a major milestone – from integration, testing, manufacturing to lifecycle support. This investment reinforces the UAE's sovereignty in critical defence technologies, strengthens the national supply chain, embarks UAE talents and deepens local expertise in advanced radar systems.' About Thales Thales (Euronext Paris: HO) is a global leader in advanced technologies for the Defence, Aerospace, and Cyber & Digital sectors. Its portfolio of innovative products and services addresses several major challenges: sovereignty, security, sustainability and inclusion. The Group invests more than €4 billion per year in Research & Development in key areas, particularly for critical environments, such as Artificial Intelligence, cybersecurity, quantum and cloud technologies. Thales has more than 83,000 employees in 68 countries. In 2024, the Group generated sales of €20.6 billion. PLEASE VISIT Thales Group Thales PRESS contact Thales, Media Relations pressroom@
Zawya
21-05-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Tawazun Council, Thales to establish Ground Master air surveillance radar production facility in UAE
ABU DHABI - Tawazun Council and Thales have signed a cooperation agreement to locally produce advanced Ground Master series air surveillance radars. This agreement supports the UAE's vision to boost local manufacturing and develop national defence capabilities. The signing took place on the second day of the "Make it in the Emirates 2025," with Matar Ali Al Romaithi, Sector Chief of Defence and Security Industry Affairs at Tawazun Council, and Abdelhafid Mordi, CEO of Thales in the UAE, in attendance alongside representatives from both sides. This reflects Thales' commitment to supporting the UAE's vision of advancing manufacturing capabilities through innovation and industrial excellence. The Ground Master radars are internationally recognised for their reliability, superior performance, rapid deployability, and adaptability to diverse missions, positioning them amongst the world's leading air surveillance and defence systems. The facility is scheduled to be fully operational by 2027, where it will assemble, test, and qualify advanced air surveillance radars to meet both domestic and export markets' needs. The factory will serve as a strategic asset, bolstering the UAE's defence manufacturing capabilities, enhancing self-sufficiency in critical technologies, and providing flexibility to address varying operational requirements. A core pillar of Thales Radar Centre of Excellence's expansion is the development of Emirati talent. Thales places localisation at the heart of its growth strategy through advanced training programmes and sustainable professional career development, building specialised local expertise in advanced radar technologies in support of the UAE's National Defence Strategy and its vision of a highly capable, future-ready national workforce. As the project is not only focused on building the radar system but also on qualifying domestic suppliers, it further contributes to strengthening the national industrial base and promoting long-term self-reliance. Commenting on the agreement, Al Romaithi said, 'The expansion of Thales' Radar Centre of Excellence reflects the strength of the UAE's defence industrial strategy and its regional leadership in advanced technologies. This initiative enhances national capabilities in air surveillance radar systems while creating significant opportunities for local companies to grow, innovate, and compete globally.' For his part, Mordi said, 'Thales is proud to contribute to the growth of the UAE's industrial defence ecosystem by advancing local capabilities, in-line with the national vision. The expansion of our Radar Centre of Excellence, through the establishment of a new production facility, marks a major milestone – from integration, testing, manufacturing to lifecycle support. "This investment reinforces the UAE's sovereignty in critical defence technologies, strengthens the national supply chain, embarks UAE talents and deepens local expertise in advanced radar systems.'
Mid East Info
15-05-2025
- Business
- Mid East Info
Raytheon, an RTX Business, Inaugurates Production and Assembly Facility to manufacture the Coyote counter drone interceptor at Tawazun Industrial Park
The new facility is part of Raytheon and Tawazun Council's plan to locally manufacture the Coyote counter drone interceptor in the UAE Abu Dhabi, May 2025 – Raytheon, an RTX business, announced the inauguration of a new advanced industrial facility at Tawazun Industrial Park in Abu Dhabi. The facility will serve as a specialised centre for the production and assembly of the Coyote counter-unmanned aerial system (C-UAS), reflecting the company's ongoing commitment to supporting the UAE's efforts in localising advanced defence manufacturing. The inauguration ceremony was attended by US Ambassador to the UAE H.E Martina Strong, along with a group of senior officials from Tawazun Council, Shareef Hashim Al Hashmi, CEO of Operations, Matar Ali Al Romaithi, Sector Chief of Defence & Security Industrial Affairs (DSIA), Khalifa Ayada Al Hameli, Chief Executive Affairs, Ahmed Ali Al Harmoodi, Sector Chief of Acquisition Management, Hamdan Nasser Al Zaabi, Acting CEO of Tawazun Industrial Park and Fahad Mohammed Al Mheiri, Managing Director of Raytheon Emirates. During the event, officials toured the facility which, once operational, will enhance the resilience and efficiency of the defence supply chain, a testament to the UAE's progress in localising cutting-edge defence technologies. The launch of this facility follows a series of agreements signed between Tawazun Council and Raytheon to support the localisation of strategic defence industries in the UAE. As part of these collaborations, Raytheon has partnered with local entities, including EDGE's EPI, which has already commenced the manufacturing of prototype components as an initial step toward industrial readiness. Spanning 21,500 square feet, the facility features advanced infrastructure and dedicated spaces for the final integration, assembly, and precision testing of the Coyote interceptor system. The system, proven in the field, is designed to counter a wide range of unmanned aerial threats and will now be produced locally — setting a new benchmark in the UAE's defence manufacturing ecosystem. Matar Ali Al Romaithi, Sector Chief of Defence & Security Industrial Affairs (DSIA) at Tawazun Council, said: 'This facility marks a strategic milestone in the UAE's vision to establish an advanced defence industrial base. The partnership stems from the objectives of Tawazun Economic Programme to foster collaboration with international partners to transfer knowledge and advanced technologies to the UAE's defence and security industrial sector. 'Through the development of specialised local capabilities and a greater focus on national production, the project supports the enhancement of local content and empowers Emirati companies to play a leading role in global supply chains. It also reinforces the UAE's position as a regional hub for advanced defence industries and strengthens its drive towards industrial self-reliance and technological excellence,' he added. Hamdan Nasser Al Zaabi, Acting CEO of Tawazun Industrial Park, stated: 'The inauguration of Raytheon's facility reflects our vision to develop an integrated industrial ecosystem that attracts high-value investments and builds sustainable national manufacturing capabilities. This project underscores the competitiveness of the UAE's industrial environment and its capacity to host global defence initiatives that strengthen our national capabilities.' 'The inauguration of our new facility brings us a step closer to delivering production and assembly of the first UAE made Raytheon interceptor, which will mark our first local production programme with our partners in the UAE,' said Fahad Mohammed Al Mheiri, Managing Director of Raytheon Emirates. 'We are proud to deliver this project to support and utilise the continued growth of the local defence ecosystem, which will also enhance Raytheon's global supply chain. We are excited to see the Raytheon facility at Tawazun Industrial Park come to life, advancing our partnership from plan to production, further contributing to the development of local capabilities and strengthening the UAE's position as a hub for advanced defence technologies.' Coyote is an advanced and highly capable counter drone interceptor that has proven itself effective at defeating a range of drone threats. Designed to intercept hostile Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS), Coyote provides security and protection for personnel, critical infrastructure, and military assets. About RTX: RTX is the world's largest aerospace and defense company. With more than 185,000 global employees, we push the limits of technology and science to redefine how we connect and protect our world. Through industry-leading businesses – Collins Aerospace, Pratt & Whitney and Raytheon – we are advancing aviation, engineering integrated defense systems for operational success, and developing next-generation technology solutions and manufacturing to help global customers address their most critical challenges. The company, with 2024 sales of more than $80 billion, is headquartered in Arlington, Virginia.
