UMEX SimTEX expands with Autonomous Drone Challenge at ADNEC

ADNEC will host the largest-ever UMEX and SimTEX at the ADNEC Centre in Abu Dhabi from January 20 to 22, 2026, with a major expansion that pushes autonomy and AI to the forefront of unmanned-systems display and demos. Exhibition space grows by 34 percent to 40,322 square meters and the show will bring roughly 375 companies from 38 countries, signaling a broader industry pivot toward commercial and defence applications that touch on air, land and maritime domains.

For the drone racing and FPV communities the headline is the new A2RL Drone Challenge, organised by ASPIRE as part of ATRC and scheduled to run during UMEX on January 21 and 22. The challenge will mix high-speed time trials, traditional head-to-head racing, and exhibition matches that pair professional human pilots with advanced autonomous systems. That combination is designed to show current limits and near-term potential as autonomy moves from research benches into real-world operations.

Organiser programming expands this year to include focused tracks on autonomy and artificial intelligence, alongside demonstrations of commercial drone capabilities such as logistics, inspection, public safety and smart city applications. Expect live demonstrations and startup showcases aimed at connecting racers, developers and operations teams with emerging autonomy stacks, perception systems and flight control solutions that can be adapted for both sport and enterprise use.

Practically, the event will be a rare chance for FPV pilots and teams to compare human reflexes with autonomous timing at speed, evaluate autonomy toolchains for lap recognition and obstacle avoidance, and scout vendors offering sensor fusion, low-latency comms and AI-driven navigation. The presence of a wide international exhibitor base also means more options for sourcing components, telemetry tools and integration services not commonly available at grassroots meets.

Logistics and partner information have been provided by organisers for attendees planning travel and demo schedules. Pilots and crews aiming to attend should verify registration windows, equipment requirements and airspace arrangements in advance, and plan for workshop and demo slots that may require prior sign-up.

This edition makes clear the drift from purely spectator sport to a testing ground where sport pilots, R&D teams and commercial operators will measure human skill against increasingly capable autonomy. For the racing community, that means new lines of collaboration with startups and research groups, fresh opportunities for tech transfer, and the chance to see whether algorithmic throttle and stick work can keep up with the best human pilots.