How Hamad Al Marar envisioned a global defence powerhouse

CEO OF UAE'S EDGE GROUP SHARES JOURNEY TO BECOMING ONE OF WORLD'S TOP 25 DEFENCE COMPANIES

- BY ALI AL HAMMADI

When Hamad Al Marar graduated in 2005 with a degree in accounting, he could hardly have predicted that he would one day lead one a global defence powerhouse.

Today, as Managing Director and CEO of EDGE Group, Al Marar is helming a defence behemoth, which has grown from a small, focused project to a massive international player in just a few short years.

Al Marar's journey into the defence sector began almost by chance through the UAE's Offset Programme Bureau, where he joined as an analyst.

In an interview with Gulf News, Al Marar recalled: "One of my first projects was with what is now called LAHAB, which produces everything from small to large calibre ammunition."

His early work on key projects included the development of sniper systems and unmanned technologies, including the UAE's first air-to-ground missile programme in a joint venture with South Africa's Denel.

Al Marar also played a crucial role in consolidating and modernising the industry. Between 2013 and 2017, he led efforts to merge several key players across defence, cybersecurity, and homeland security, laying the groundwork for what would ultimately become EDGE Group in 2019.