news brief: New defense group in the Middle East

by Joel Lara 

      The ruler of the UAE announced on Tuesday November 5th that 25 government and independent companies will combine to create the Middle East’s biggest defense group that would be named Edge , according to CNBC.

      Faisal Al Bannai has been named chief executive and managing director for the defense group Edge. Bannai will combine the private firms and government-owned defense industries, that have an estimated 12,000 employees into Edge. Bannai has stated that the defense group will focus on cyberattacks and repelling military drones. 

     Bannai is also founder of Axiom Telecom and has stated that the objective was to ensure that the UAE had the ability to protect itself and to also develop its knowledge of economy before its last barrel of oil runs out. Bannai has also stated that the formation of Edge was not a reaction to the Aramco attack in Saudi Arabia. Bannai said, “These things come and go. We have always lived in interesting neighborhood in that regard.” 

(Photo: Anti Corruption Digest)