UAE’s Tawazun Industrial Park (TIP) and Nexter, a French government-owned weapons manufacturer, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to construct a world-class center for the testing and qualification of ammunitions, weapons systems, and vehicles under international standards.
Through this collaborative endeavor, Nexter aims to fulfill a Tawazun Economic Program obligation while enhancing national capabilities. The MoU was signed by Mr. Faiz Saleh Al Nahdi, MD and CEO of TIP, and Mr. Dominique Morisset, Nexter’s Regional Director in Abu Dhabi, on the sidelines of the two-day “Make it in the Emirates” Forum, organized by the UAE Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology (MoIAT).
Mr. Al Nahdi stated that the MoU comes as part of TIP’s commitment to enabling the UAE’s defense and security industry and is in keeping with the Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology’s “Operation 300bn” strategy.
Faiz Saleh Al Nahdi MD & CEO – TIP
“TIP Testing and Qualification Centre, in collaboration with Nexter as its technical partner, will give the country a sovereign capability that is unique in the region, offering complete certifications in accordance with a variety of international standards. The center would initially serve TIP’s strategic partners, including the Ministry of Defense, the UAE Armed Forces, the Tawazun Acquisition Management Unit, and other industrial companies.”
The center will equip the UAE with the ability to conduct Service Life Surveillance on a local level, overcoming any logistical hurdles, increasing exports and promoting the country as a center of excellence in both R&D and manufacturing in the defense and security industries.
Mr. Morisset remarked that “We are proud to enter this strategic relationship with TIP, an important resource for the defense and security industries, to create the Testing and Qualification facility in Abu Dhabi. The project will help the UAE become a hub for advanced and highly qualified defense and security businesses, as well as a strong presence in global markets.”
