Within 48 hours of the escalation that began on February 28, EDGE Group, a UAE-based advanced technology company, successfully deployed its defense systems along the country’s shore borders and established a geofence to secure national territory. This rapid response was made possible due to years of preparation and strategic readiness, according to Hamad Al Marar, Managing Director and CEO of EDGE Group, who spoke about the company’s role and approach in an exclusive interview.
EDGE’s ability to mobilize equipment swiftly was not a spontaneous reaction but the result of decades of sustained development and planning within the UAE’s defense sector. Al Marar emphasized that such readiness cannot be achieved overnight but stems from continuous support to the armed forces, including logistical and personnel supply. The company consolidates more than 35 entities into six core clusters, focusing on areas such as Platforms and Systems, Missiles and Weapons, Advanced Sensing, Secure Intelligence Systems, Technology and Industrialisation, and Homeland Security.
While the escalation has accelerated some aspects of EDGE’s technology deployment timetable, it has not fundamentally altered the group’s strategic direction. Instead, the company is prioritizing an earlier introduction of certain capabilities, aiming to advance the deployment of previously planned technologies. Al Marar noted that collaborating with international technology partners from countries including Europe, South Korea, India, and the United States has facilitated faster qualification and integration of proven systems without compromising local sovereignty or adaptability.
Al Marar highlighted the importance of maintaining a balance between self-reliance and international cooperation. Although full self-sufficiency is unattainable, relying exclusively on external suppliers can expose vulnerabilities in supply chains, production capacity, and lead times. Accordingly, EDGE is focusing on increasing local manufacturing and retaining technical knowledge to enable rapid system modifications in response to evolving threats. He described the need for such agility by stating, “Your enemy is smart, and you need to outsmart them every single day.”
Key focus areas for the company include counter-drone technology, electronic warfare, and systems that emphasize autonomy, ease of use, and extended operational range. The goal is to detect and neutralize threats at greater distances while minimizing human error and ensuring continuous operational readiness.
EDGE also envisions deeper defense cooperation within the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region. Al Marar proposed the establishment of shared manufacturing facilities and strategic technology hubs distributed across multiple GCC countries. Such regional collaboration, he argued, would reduce risks associated with centralized production and provide business continuity by avoiding single points of failure.
Looking ahead, EDGE plans to make its systems more robust and autonomous, accelerate development and deployment timelines, and explore acquisitions of companies and intellectual property that can complement its technological advancement. This approach aims to enhance the UAE’s defense capabilities in a rapidly changing security environment while supporting broader regional security collaboration.