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IDEX 2025 Recap: South Korea Makes Push into Key Middle East Markets
South Korea’s defence industry demonstrated its growing global influence with a commanding presence at the International Defence Exhibition & Conference (IDEX) 2025 in Abu Dhabi.
The event, held from February 17-21, saw major South Korean defence contractors showcasing their most advanced systems and signing significant deals in the Middle East’s largest defence exhibition.
This year marked a strategic push by South Korean companies to strengthen their foothold in the lucrative Middle Eastern and North African (MENA) defence markets, with government support playing a crucial role in their coordinated approach.
Integrated South Korean Presence
For the first time, the defence Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) operated an ‘Integrated S.Korea Booth’ at IDEX 2025, combining the government promotional booth with the SME exhibition space.
This initiative represented a significant shift in South Korea’s approach to international defence exhibitions, emphasizing a unified “One-Team” strategy between the government and private sector.
The integrated booth featured exhibitions of Korean SME defence products alongside government-led promotion of Korea’s defence industry capabilities.
DAPA Chief Seok Jong-geon attended the exhibition, meeting with senior defence officials from various countries including UAE Minister of State for defence Affairs Mohammed bin Mubarak Al Mazrouei and Chief of Staff Issa Al Mazrouei.
These high-level meetings focused on potential participation of Korean defence companies in the UAE’s arms procurement projects.
The DAPA chief also engaged with Saudi Arabian representatives at IDEX, signing a memorandum of understanding on mutual acceptance of government quality assurance for military supplies and services.
Kim Tae-gon, Director General for International Cooperation at DAPA, emphasized the strategic importance of the integrated approach, stating:
“Starting with IDEX 2025, we will continue to operate the Integrated S.Korea Booth at major international defence exhibitions, further promoting joint government-private sector marketing efforts”.
This coordinated strategy aims to enhance the global competitiveness of Korean defence companies, particularly SMEs seeking to enter international markets.
Hanwha-EDGE Strategic Partnership Discussions
The meeting between Hanwha’s Vice Chairman Kim Dong-kwan and EDGE Group’s Chairman Faisal Al Bannai represented a significant step toward potential collaboration between the two defence giants.
Kim specifically reached out to Al Bannai, who also serves as Secretary General of UAE’s Advanced Technology Research Council, to discuss working together on building an air defence system in the UAE using the Korea-made L-SAM interception system.
The discussions extended beyond air defence to include collaboration in unmanned systems, aerospace, and shipbuilding sectors. Hanwha proposed cooperation with EDGE to establish unmanned air defence systems aimed at protecting key national facilities, aligning with the broader goal of building effective defence systems and exploring joint business opportunities in the Middle East and global markets.
An official from EDGE remarked on the significance of the meeting, saying, “This meeting provided an important opportunity for EDGE and Hanwha to discuss a vision for cooperation to strengthen defence capabilities.”
The official further noted that both companies share the common goal of enhancing national defence capabilities and are committed to solidifying their cooperation strategies.
LIG Group's Advanced Air Defence Systems
Chairman Koo Bon-sang of LIG Group introduced the advanced long-range surface-to-air guided weapon, “L-SAM,” to UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan at the IDEX 2025 venue on February 17.
This presentation highlighted South Korea’s strategic push to showcase its cutting-edge defence technologies to key decision-makers in the region.
In addition to the L-SAM, Koo also presented the “K-Anti-Air Network,” a sophisticated multi-layered defence integrated solution that provides coverage from low to high altitudes.
This system exemplifies the advanced technological capabilities of LIG Nex1, a subsidiary of LIG Group, in developing comprehensive air defence solutions.
A company official emphasized the strategic advantage of South Korea’s defence offerings, stating, “The ability to offer weapon systems operated by the Republic of Korea military with equivalent performance is a significant consideration for purchasing countries.”
The official further highlighted the company’s collaborative approach, saying, “We will do our utmost with the ‘one team’ spirit by joining forces with the government and industry.”
Hyundai Rotem's K2ME Tank
Hyundai Rotem showcased the K2ME, a variant of the K2 Black Panther main battle tank specifically tailored for the Middle Eastern market. This tank is designed to meet the future defence needs of Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, featuring modifications for desert warfare including advanced cooling systems, active protection, and high mobility.
South Korea has been in negotiations with the UAE for a potential deal involving the K2ME, with discussions reportedly including technology transfer to support local production and customization.
Initially planned with a foreign-made power pack, Hyundai Rotem has shifted focus to integrating a domestically developed engine and transmission system to enhance the tank’s export potential by reducing reliance on external suppliers.
The collaboration between Hyundai Rotem, SNT Dynamics, and HD Hyundai Infracore, branded as “Korea One Team,” aims to strengthen South Korea’s presence in the Middle East by offering advanced military solutions.
With Saudi Arabia and the UAE looking to replace their aging armored fleets, the potential market for next-generation tanks is estimated at approximately 18 trillion won (USD 12.42 billion).
Contracts and Deals
The UAE awarded defence contracts worth Dh25.15 billion (US$6.85 billion) during the five days of IDEX 2025, reflecting a 10% growth compared to the 2023 edition.
While specific details of South Korean companies’ share in these contracts were not fully disclosed, the strong Korean presence at the exhibition positioned them well to capture a portion of this substantial investment.
In a related development, SNT Dynamics secured a 133.7 billion won (USD 92.86 million) contract in February 2025 to supply K2 tanks with domestic power packs to the South Korean Army, with deliveries set to begin in 2026.
This development strengthens the export potential of Korean tank systems by demonstrating domestic adoption and reducing export restrictions through the integration of locally developed systems.
South Korea’s impressive showing at IDEX 2025 reflects its strategic push to expand its defence exports and establish itself as a major player in the global defence industry.
The coordinated approach between government agencies and private companies, showcasing advanced systems like the L-SAM air defence system and K2ME tank, positions South Korean defence contractors to compete effectively with traditional Western suppliers in the lucrative Middle Eastern market.
The potential partnerships with regional players like the UAE’s EDGE Group could further strengthen South Korea’s position and lead to significant defence contracts in the coming years.
As Middle Eastern countries continue to modernize their military capabilities, South Korean companies are increasingly well-positioned to meet their defence needs with advanced, battle-proven systems backed by comprehensive support and technology transfer arrangements.
