Launched in November 2019, the UAE’s EDGE is one of the world’s leading advanced technology groups, established to develop agile, bold and disruptive solutions for defence and beyond, and to be a catalyst for change and transformation.
Moreover, EDGE is dedicated to delivering cutting-edge innovations, technologies, and services rapidly and efficiently, enhancing the UAE’s position as a global hub for future industries. Furthermore, it aims to create clear pathways within the sector for the next generation of high-calibre talent, enabling them to achieve success and prosperity. By focusing on the adoption of Fourth Industrial Revolution technologies (Industry 4.0), EDGE is at the forefront of developing sovereign capabilities for global export and maintaining national security. It collaborates with frontline operators and international partners, leveraging advanced technologies such as autonomous systems, cyber-physical systems, advanced propulsion systems, robotics, and smart materials. EDGE combines research and development, emerging technologies, digital transformation, and market innovations with military capabilities to develop innovative solutions tailored to the specific needs of its clients.
To gain a closer insight into the latest from the Emirati group, Al Jundi Journal interviewed Mr Hamad Al Marar, Managing Director and CEO of EDGE Group and had the following dialogue:
Could you share your strategic vision for the future of defence systems in the changing geopolitical landscape, and how does EDGE Group plan to stay at the forefront of technological advancement and contribute to global security?
Since our inception five years ago, our core mission has been to disrupt the defence industry with an advanced, multi-domain portfolio of sophisticated air, land and sea products, smart weapons, critical infrastructure and digital and cyber solutions. We have been successful in meeting this objective and have grown our suite of products and solutions to over 160 in total – a spectacular 500% increase since our outset.
Our commercial footprint has also grown substantially and now stretches to over 50 countries and across 5 continents, solidifying our reputation as a global player and as a major exporter of defence systems. To capitalise on our growth, we will continue to pursue our aggressive product roadmap, harness and develop breakthrough technologies, strike partnerships with industry players, diversify our capabilities portfolio, and explore commercial opportunities locally and globally.
In a rapidly evolving defence and technology landscape, how does EDGE Group stay ahead as a leader in innovation and competitiveness?
EDGE is one of the fastest-growing defence conglomerates in the world, having secured over 60 billion AED worth of contracts since the Group’s consolidation. Our significant growth can be attributed to several strategic ventures. From investing in our highly skilled workforce and pursuing strategic partnerships to acquiring high-value companies. Take, for instance, our local and international acquisitions, which now total 13. These acquisitions have significantly contributed towards our ability to level up our technology capabilities, expand our portfolio of solutions and bolster our manufacturing strength.
Among our key acquisitions is MILREM ROBOTICS, a world leader in robotics and autonomous systems. Having recently opened an office in Abu Dhabi, local customers can now capitalise on our expanded operations with unprecedented access to our suite of combat-proven and highly modular unmanned ground vehicles.
We also recently acquired ANAVIA, a Swiss company specialising in the design, development and manufacturing of versatile VTOL (Vertical Take-Off and Landing) systems.
Other notable acquisitions include SIATT, our entity for smart weapons and precision-guided armaments; CONDOR, one of the top five industry leaders in Non-Lethal Technologies (NLT) worldwide; and FLARIS, which specialises in state-of-the-art fixed-wing aerial systems.
EDGE Group has been actively forming partnerships globally. What are the strategic importance of these collaborations and how do they contribute to the group’s overall vision?
It is critical to understand that our international partnerships play a central role in strengthening our defence and advanced technology value chains. These collaborations support export growth, boost national capabilities, contribute to EDGE’s Industry 4.0 framework and enhance the UAE’s industrialisation strategy.
Let’s consider our recent landmark agreement with Adani Defence & Aerospace, which will create a global platform to leverage the defence and aerospace capabilities of both our companies. Not only will this partnership establish defence and aerospace R&D facilities in India and the UAE for development, production, and maintenance purposes, but it will also deepen our foothold in South Asia and strengthen critical supply chains within the region and wider global markets.
Another significant partnership is the launch of MAESTRAL, our joint venture with Fincantieri, one of the largest shipbuilding companies in the world, which will see the creation of a naval manufacturing pipeline worth 30 billion euros.
We can also highlight our collaboration with Spain’s INDRA, a world-leading information technology and defence systems company, which will significantly fast-track the development of next-generation radars and open new opportunities in high-growth markets. These international partnerships, to name only a few, are pivotal in advancing our strategic goals and solidifying our position as a disruptive global player in the defence and advanced technology sectors.
As an advanced technology-focused organisation, how does EDGE Group foster a culture of innovation among its teams, and what role does cutting-edge technology play in your overall strategy?
At the heart of every flagship product or ground-breaking system designed or built at EDGE, is a team of exceptionally talented individuals turning concepts into reality. Human capital is key to our success, which is why we foster a culture of innovation at EDGE and actively support the development of future technology experts and leaders in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). We achieve this by partnering with academic institutions and offering comprehensive learning and development programmes within the Group. We also utilise our award-winning Industry 4.0 roadmap to transform local industrial capabilities, enhancing efficiency and leveraging cutting-edge emerging technology – such as artificial intelligence and machine learning – to streamline processes and drive digital solutions.
What challenges and opportunities do you foresee for EDGE Group in the coming years, especially in the context of geopolitical shifts and advancements in technology?
Today, the world finds itself in an increasingly uncertain and precarious position, making tomorrow’s security landscape unpredictable and the defence industry vulnerable to sudden changes. Disruptive technologies, such as artificial intelligence, electronic warfare, secure communications and cybersecurity, are already critical in driving national security.
That is why EDGE is heavily investing in all of these priority domains, to ensure we stay ahead of tomorrow’s national security and critical infrastructure concerns. At EDGE, we ensure that we are positioned to respond in real-time to the growing needs of our clients, such as the critical demand for operational readiness, international supply chain reinforcement and access to advanced autonomous aerial systems, land systems, cyber defence infrastructure and secure communications solutions.
Building a skilled workforce is crucial for success. How does EDGE Group invest in talent development and ensure that its teams are equipped with the necessary skills to excel in a dynamic industry?
We believe that innovation and talent development are rooted in learning, a crucial pillar of our long-term strategy.
EDGE represents a global workforce of over 12,000 exceptional personnel of more than 95 different nationalities. To equip our teams with the necessary skills, we established the EDGE Learning and Innovation Factory (LIF), a state-of-the-art Industry 4.0 advanced technology learning centre.
Our facility combines theory, technology and practice under one roof to drive improvements and inspire an innovative approach to transform future processes and products.
The Learning and Innovation Factory has developed around 49 different trainings under Lean, Six Sigma, Industry 4.0, Analytics and Agile methodologies. To offer outstanding learning experiences, LIF has onboarded a diverse group of high-performance experts from across the world to develop and deliver these training programs.
In an era of rapid technological advancements, how does EDGE Group adapt to change, and how do you ensure that the organization remains agile and responsive to evolving market demands?
Technological advancements present both challenges and limitless possibilities. At EDGE, we stay ahead of industry trends by focusing and capitalising on emerging technologies. In doing so, our cross-domain expertise and team of specialists enable us to research, design, and manufacture innovative technological and security solutions for our customers. By way of example, EDGE uses early conceptualisation phases and open architecture instead of restrictive black boxes. This approach accelerates the introduction of modern product development to the international market, allowing for greater flexibility and faster adaptation to new developments. Our forward-thinking strategy helps us maintain our competitive superiority in a rapidly evolving industry and, crucially, enables us to meet our growing client requirements effectively.
Given the increasing importance of cybersecurity, how does EDGE Group address the challenges and threats in this domain, especially considering the sensitive nature of the industries you serve?
We believe it is our responsibility, as a leading advanced technology and defence company, to pioneer ground-breaking solutions which can effectively counter the growing tide of cybersecurity threats. For this reason, we have been heavily investing in and acquiring technologies and capabilities we believe will have the most significant impact in responding to critical infrastructure challenges.
From among our growing digital security portfolio is our entity, KATIM, a leader in secure communications, providing ultra-secure smartphones and post-quantum network encryptions to ensure constant security of sensitive data.
Our recent acquisition of ORYXLABS has also added award-winning cybersecurity solutions to our suite of capabilities, offering effective organisation monitoring of government and company IT landscapes, identification of potential vulnerabilities in digital infrastructure and networks, as well as integrated cybersecurity compliance management.
Lastly, our entity BEACON RED adds critical national security capabilities to our range of cyber assets, by designing custom training scenarios for cyber operations and integration.
Profile:
- Hamad Al Marar
- Managing Director & Chief Executive Officer, EDGE Group
- He is responsible for the worldwide strategic, commercial, and operational management of EDGE
- Al Marar was formerly President of the Missiles & Weapons cluster at EDGE, where he provided oversight and strategic direction on the development and business functions of four companies within the cluster – AI TARIQ, CARACAL, HALCON, and LAHAB.
- He was Chief Consulting Officer at Tawazun Economic Council (TEC), overseeing strategic client partnerships and providing advisory support based on operational research.
- He was General Manager of Tawazun Dynamics (now AL TARIQ), a standoff weapons joint venture in its concept phase.
- With the establishment of Tawazun, he was entrusted with managing complex stakeholder partnerships and defence contractors, initially across Europe and then globally.
- He has been a speaker on several leadership forums, with a focus on advancing the human capital agenda and excellence in the defence sector, and serves on several committees and boards in an advisory capacity.
» Interviewed by: «AlJundi»
