On 11 June 2026, Abu Dhabi-based advanced technology and defence group EDGE formally launched EDGE Europe, a fully European commercial enterprise, headquartered in Paris, with plans to build an engineering and manufacturing hub in Bordeaux. The move signals EDGE’s decisive strategic commitment to the European defence market.

During Eurosatory 2026, on June 16, Future Warfare Magazine had the opportunity to sit down with H.E. Hamad Al Marar, Managing Director & CEO of EDGE Group, for an exclusive conversation on EDGE's European vision, industrial partnerships, technology priorities, and what the UAE's defence culture can bring to the continent.

Future Warfare Magazine (FWM): When we look at your expansion strategy, why is Europe the next big market for EDGE?

H. Al Marar: I do strongly believe that Europe needs more players. At EDGE, we possess really innovative solutions that work for UAE, and that we are already exporting to other countries, so we are very confident that we have knowledge and know-how to speak of. Now, Europe is unique. Europe wants EDGE to be in Europe to serve Europe. And of course, among the different countries in Europe, we have seen that there is a very big acceptance for EDGE to partner, to work with, to create joint ventures.

FWM: Can you map out what EDGE already has on the ground across Europe?

H. Al Marar: Let's start from Spain. We have a very good relationship today with Indra and Escribano Mechanical & Engineering. Between both of us, we complete each other's offering — we have a vehicle, they have a turret, which is on display at the Spanish pavilion. They have radars; we wanted to develop new radars that they don't have, so we are developing them together. We are truly complementing each other.

Let's move to France. France has been a very strategic ally to the United Arab Emirates. We rely on them heavily on our main assets. Perhaps it is very important for us to go even deeper together, because solutions from our end will go on their fighters, will go on their tanks, will go on other systems that we can work on together.

We also have a small arms manufacturing which is currently in service in Germany and supplying the country. In Switzerland we have a stake in the high performance vertical take-off drone company Anavia.. In Estonia, we have our UGV, our Unmanned Ground Vehicle, coming from Milrem Robotics, which is also a major acquisition. In Poland, our unmanned UAV is coming from Flaris, another acquisition.

In Italy as well, we have many acquisitions and partnerships. One of them is CMD (Costruzioni Motori Diesel), an engine manufacturer, and we have a partnership with Leonardo, as well as other factories we are working with. So, you can see that we already have a very nice footprint across all of Europe. The ground is already set.

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(Editor's note: EDGE Europe's formal European industrial base also includes a joint venture with Fincantieri in the naval domain, a joint venture with Indra Sistemas, and strategic partnerships with Leonardo and Safran, underpinning a multi-domain presence from day one.)

FWM: Beyond market considerations, has the way different countries and companies behaved during the recent Iranian aggression influenced your assessment of who your allies truly are in Europe?

H. Al Marar: I think that the conflict that we faced — the Iranian aggression — shook the system. The UAE has started to rethink its alliance logics, and EDGE is part of such a grand strategy and repositioning. During war, some companies, some countries, have dropped the ball, just leaving, because of the conflict. From a political standpoint, my country actually wants allies that support it in the bad times, reliable and trustworthy ones. Businesswise, the UAE and EDGE want healthy competition on the supply side among trusted allies, but we do not want unhealthy competition from someone who will not support us when the country is at war and in trouble. Most European countries, France in the first instance, has respected their commitment and were at the UAE’s side during the conflict against Iran. This will not be forgotten.

We all now know that a new aggression can start again. No one can guarantee it won't. And I think there is no country that can afford to do things alone anymore. We need partnerships, and we need to share risks and costs. This includes also spreading manufacturing capacity for strategic reasons.

FWM: When you speak of spreading capacities, do you mean that facilities in Europe could be mobilised to support your supply chain in the UAE if needed?

H. Al Marar: Exactly. If I have a facility in the UAE, I also want another capacity in another location. So, in case something happens to one facility, you have another. You can get the materials you need, and you are already familiar with the hardware, the doctrine and the production and operational processes. I call it “building continuity for wartimes”. And it can be built on reciprocity. Should the UAE be at war, European manufacturers can help us regenerate our forces. On the other hand, if any European country should be in trouble, our domestic capabilities can be mobilized to help them.

FWM: In your opinion, what are the key technology domains in which EDGE can make the most meaningful contribution to European programmes?

H. Al Marar: At EDGE, we focus on three main technologies. First, smart weapons — we can do so much in that domain. Second, electronic warfare in which we are very advanced. And third, the autonomous domain: unmanned aircraft, unmanned boats, unmanned ground vehicles, and underwater systems. We are focused on these three domains, and I think we can bring a very significant wealth of knowledge and technologies in these areas.

FWM: In previous interviews, EDGE representatives told FW MAG that engines represent an area where you have real ambitions. Why engines specifically, and what could the relationship between EDGE and Europe look like in that domain?

H. Al Marar: Engines for defence applications are very diverse, and there are several bottlenecks in the world in terms of supply chain and design authorities. Today, we would need new families of engines for all applications (sea, land, air) that are lighter, cheaper, and of a more modern design. Moreover, we would like to reduce our dependency on a few well-known manufacturers that determine the market alone. To have new, modern engines that are consistent with our present and future product ranges, a lot of investment and experience is needed. For EDGE, there are two possible pathways: either spending a significant number of years learning from scratch or embracing valuable partnerships and starting tomorrow. Propulsion has always been a critical component in the defence world — it is very heavily regulated. It is what makes the difference in effectors and drones. This is precisely why, with our acquisition of CMD in Italy, we have taken a deliberate step into European propulsion capability. The partnership model is what makes this work — we bring ambition; Europe brings the depth of expertise.

FWM: This is perhaps a more cultural question, but an important one. Beyond technology, there will be a great deal of interaction between people — building trust, building ties. What does UAE culture bring to the table that European partners might appreciate?

H. Al Marar: Unconditional commitment! We come from a world where handshakes are more valued than a contract. Europe appreciates that too. We are here to bring value, to create jobs, to make ecosystems work, to export, and to bring prosperity. At EDGE, our culture is often described as fast-moving. I would put it differently: we are deliberate, but we are decisive. That discipline in decision-making is something we intend to bring to Europe.  I think Europe has become very bureaucratic. The procurement process, for example, is lengthy. And this will always have a very bad impact on entrepreneurs who have smart and valuable ideas. If they have to wait years, it will cost them enormously, and the teams working on those innovations will start looking for other jobs. Those who decide quickly can have a faster turnaround, and it has always been beneficial, especially for the entities we have acquired in Europe. We want to create a a more business-friendly environment, and we know that many European enterprises and entrepreneurs are ready to help us and to follow us.

FWM: You have explained clearly what EDGE can do for Europe. But what Europe can offer EDGE in return?

H. Al Marar: Technology acceleration. We are clear-eyed about what we bring, and equally clear about what we seek. What Europe offers EDGE is faster pathways to technology development and more direct access to markets we would otherwise take longer to reach. That exchange is what makes genuine partnership meaningful.

FWM: I have to put a more pointed question on France, as penetrating the country - a rather nationalistic market – is not easy. How are you approaching the French?

H. Al Marar: First, the decision to headquarter EDGE Europe in Paris is rooted in something deeper than geography. Over the past fifty years, France has been remarkably consistent in its relationship with the UAE. Regardless of which minister, which prime minister, or which president has been in office — France as a nation has remained a trusted and loyal partner.

Second, from the moment we committed to establishing our presence in Paris, things moved with real pace — the permits, the lease, the agreements. The process has been smooth, and frankly, the French have been very easy to work with. At least that has been our experience.

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(Editor's note: EDGE Europe's Paris headquarters is located in a prestigious neighbourhood near the Arc de Triomphe in central Paris, focused on government engagement, partnerships, and investment across the region. The Bordeaux engineering and manufacturing hub will drive design, integration, and rapid development, sitting at the heart of France's aerospace and defence industrial base.)

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Future Warfare Magazine thanks H.E. Hamad Al Marar for his time and his candour. The launch of EDGE Europe represents one of the most significant structural entries by a non-European defence group into the continent's industrial landscape in recent years, and this conversation offers a rare first-hand view of the strategy behind it.

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