The UAE Armed Forces has signed 21 contracts worth more than $1.8bn and a $7bn deal is to be finalised imminently as the country continues to focus on upgrading defence capabilities.

Major General Obaid al-Katbi, head of the International Defence Exhibition (Idex), says that the deals are all part of the UAE’s plans to shore up its defences. Al-Katbi would not comment on which countries or issues pose a direct threat.

“It is all according to the Strategic Plan of the UAE. It is important not only for the UAE, but for the region as a whole and it is very important to be well-equipped and [defended],” he says.

The leading risk in the Middle East is instability in the region. The six GCC states have a combined defence budget of $68bn in 2011. The region will spend $80bn by 2015 on bolstering defence equipment – land, sea and air – across the board. Resources are also being used to develop cyber security and terrorism monitoring systems.

The biggest deal signed was an AED2bn ($550m) contract with Abu Dhabi-based Emiraje Systems for the installation of command, control, communications, computers, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (C4ISR) systems.

Emiraje says C4ISR is the world’s most advanced command and control defence system.