Doha, Qatar, 27 October 2009: The Doha 2nd International Maritime Defence Exhibition 2010 (DIMDEX 2010), the anchor of the Middle East and North African maritime defence industry, today signed an agreement with Royal United Services Institute for Defence and Security Studies in Qatar (RUSI Qatar) on the production and management of the Middle East Naval Commanders Conference to be held in Doha on 30 March 2010.

The Middle East Naval Commanders Conference (MENC) is a key part of the 3-day DIMDEX 2010 exhibition taking place at the 10,000 sq m Doha Exhibition Center from 29 to 31 March 2010.

MENC brings together every naval commander from the GCC alongside their counterparts from Europe, Asia, and North America at the biggest gathering of naval commanders in the Middle East in 2010.

The MENC conference will address three areas central to maritime security; the policy priorities of the region’s navies; the technologies that can help deliver security at sea; and the challenges confronting commanders in the conduct of operations? In short; policy, technology, and operations.

The MENC program will explore these headline topics with addresses from chiefs of navies, alongside top level officials, fleet commanders, and RUSI experts.

“The DIMDEX Middle East Naval Commanders Conference is a unique gathering of top level naval commanders from around the world. It will provide a focused forum for strategic discussion on the specific challenges faced in maritime security in the Middle East and North Africa region,” says DIMDEX 2010 Chairman Al Mohannadi. (Should this list his full title - Staff Brigadier (Sea) Mohammed N. Al Mohannadi, Commander, Qatar Emiri Naval Forces?)

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“The maritime environment in the Middle East and North Africa is becoming increasingly important to global security with the interlinked nature of contemporary security threats. As an institute engaged in nearly two centuries of forward thinking on defence and security matters, RUSI is delighted to partner with DIMDEX and the Qatari Emiri Navy in hosting the Middle East Naval Commanders Conference.” said Mark Thomas, Acting Director of RUSI Qatar
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Held under the auspices of His Highness Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Al Thani, The Emir of Qatar and His Highness Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani, Heir Apparent of the State of Qatar, DIMDEX 2010 and DIMDEX MENC are the Middle East and North Africa’s largest exhibition and conference dedicated to the maritime defence industry.

Supported by the Qatar Armed Forces, DIMDEX 2010 is again hosted by Qatar Emiri Naval Forces in Doha from 29 to 31 March 2010.

Over 7,000 delegates, 135 exhibitors from 35 countries and 90 VIP International Delegations led by top Navy, Coast Guard and other Sea Service Commanders are expected to participate at DIMDEX 2010.

For more information about DIMDEX Middle East Naval Commanders Conference and DIMDEX 2010 exhibition opportunities, visit the www.dimdex.com website.
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For further information, please contact:
Laila Chehayber
Senior Account Manager
Telephone: + 974 428 3126
Cohn & Wolfe Public Relations
Email: Laila.Chehayber@cohnwolfeqatar.com

Notes to the Editor
About DIMDEX 2010

DIMDEX 2010
Doha Exhibition Center
29-31 March 2010
DIMDEX is an exclusive International Defence Maritime Exhibition and Conference that features the surface, undersea and coastal patrol aircraft/equipment and systems solutions. This prestigious exhibition is the most comprehensive and only fully Integrated Naval show in the Middle East and North Africa region.

Held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani, Heir Apparent of Qatar and hosted by the Qatar Armed Forces and the Qatar Emiri Naval Forces, Doha International Maritime Defence Exhibition & Conference (DIMDEX) has the full support of the State of Qatar.

DIMDEX will bring together the world’s leading maritime, territorial security, coastal defence and undersea defence systems industry to meet with the world’s key decision makers, defence officials and government high dignitaries. DIMDEX is a unique International gathering of key exhibitors to showcase the latest cutting-edge technology and state-of-the-art naval products.

www.dimdex.com

About RUSI Qatar
The Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) is an independent think tank engaged in defence and security research, and founded in 1831 by the Duke of Wellington.

RUSI (Qatar) is the Doha branch of the Royal United Services Institute for Defence and Security Studies (RUSI). It seeks to promote debate and facilitate dialogue between military and security communities of the Gulf and Middle East. It strives to increase understanding by decision makers, practitioners, and the public about the challenges that the region faces and the opportunities for overcoming them.