Qatar spends big at international exhibition

Qatar’s military signed defense contracts worth $23 billion last week at the Doha International Maritime Defense Exhibition and Conference.

According to the Gulf Times newspaper the contracts were signed with about 20 international companies for anti-aircraft missile systems, helicopters, tanks, radar and patrol boats.

Among the biggest winners of contracts was Boeing of the United States. It received a contract for 24 AH-64 Apache attack helicopters and three early warning radar planes.

Lockheed Martin was given an award to provide training at the country’s air force academy.

Airbus of France won contracts for two aerial refueling/transport aircraft, while an Airbus Helicopters unit will supply Qatar with 22 NH-90 military helicopters, the newspaper reported.

Turkish company Ares signed with Qatar to deliver 17 fast patrol boats within the next 56 months for the Qatar Coast Guard Services, while German company Krauss-Maffei Wegmann is to deliver tanks and artillery under another contract.

“This week has been about building on our existing relationships as well as building new relationships, broadening our knowledge in the advancement of new technologies and establishing partnerships with world’s leading experts in order to better the position of the State of Qatar,” said Assistant Minister of State for Defense Affairs for Financial Affairs (CQ) Thani Abdulrahman al-Kuwari. “We look forward to Dimdex 2016 and expanding on our successes of this year.”

Dimdex 2014, or the Doha International Maritime Defense Exhibition and Conference, featured more than 175 exhibitors and over 80 delegations from 53 countries.