UAE defence giant set to add five more units

Emirati armed forces take part in a military show. (AFP/Getty Images - for illustrative purposes only)

Emirates Defence Industries Company (EDIC), the integrated national defence industries firm launched in December, on Saturday announced that it is set to add five additional subsidiaries from Mubadala Development Company and Tawazun Holding.

Mubadala's Advanced Military Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul Centre (AMMROC) and Tawazun's Abu Dhabi Autonomous Systems Investment (ADASI), Burkan Munitions Systems, Caracal International and Caracal Light Ammunition will join 11 other companies that were previously announced as part of the EDIC platform, a statement said.

EDIC also announced several senior management appointments, including Sara Al Shorouqi as executive director of communications, Imad Ayass as general counsel, Mohamed Al Raeesi as senior legal counsel, Laila Saif as acting head of human capital, and Omar Al Faresi as acting head of finance. Luc Vigneron was previously announced as CEO.

Homaid Al Shemmari, chairman of EDIC, said: "These five companies were selected as part of EDIC's strategy to be the region's premier integrated defence manufacturing and services platform."

Once the integration process is complete, EDIC will have 16 companies across the manufacturing, autonomous systems, mapping, maintenance, repair and overhaul, communications, logistics and technology development sectors, making it one of the largest defence companies in the Gulf region.

Al Shemmari added: "As a result of this integration, the defence services industry will benefit from improved alignment, enhanced performance, increased capacity and greater economies of scale, and be better positioned to serve the Armed Forces of the UAE and compete for business in the region."