The opening session started with a brief welcome note by INEGMA CEO, Mr. Riad Kahwaji who stressed the importance of the Symposium as missiles constitute a real threat to the stability of the GCC countries. The first keynote speech was delivered by His Excellency Major General Ali Mohammed Subaih Al Ka'abi, Deputy Chief of Staff of the UAE Armed Forces. He welcomed the attending delegates in the UAE, and discussed theater ballistic missile potential to reach over land and water. He added that the key problem is that the WMD capability is increasing. He also said that an integrated missile defense Center of Excellence along with CENTCOM is now a reality.

General James Mattis, Commander, Central Command, United States, delivered the second keynote speech. He said that CENTCOM is eager to engage in countering ballistic and cruise missiles and providing a robust missile defense. The theater threat is worsening. Non-traditional security partners are now critical. There is desire for a common regional reaction and critical collaboration that needs to be multi-lateral.

The third keynote speech was delivered by Major General Ibrahim Naser Al Alawi, Deputy Commander of UAE Air Force & Air Defense. He noted that enemy missiles are becoming better and more dangerous as weapons of delivery than manned aircraft. Technologies are spreading and ballistic and cruise missiles represent a real threat and that is why integration through C4ISR is most important.

First Plenary Session

The first plenary session was chaired by Lieutenant General (Ret.) Stanley Green, the Vice President of International Business Development, Air and Missile Defense at Lockheed Martin. Major General Richard Shook, the Mobilization Assistant to Commander of the US Air Forces Central Command, made a presentation on "Regional Integrated Air and Missile Defense – The Operational Picture", where he presented the challenges of coordinating regional partners. Shook stressed communications kits are most important.

Brigadier General Mohammed Murad Hassan Al Baloushi, a commanding officer of the  UAE Air Force & Air Defense made a presentation that TBM development is not new on "Region-Specific Challenges in Building an Integrated Missile Defense Shield". He said that countermeasures and coordination is a slow process and that progress is being made. The last panelist in this session was Brigadier General (P) David Mann, the Commander of the 32nd Army Air & Missile Defense Command from the U.S. His presentation was entitled "A Regional Approach to Missile Defense - The Integrated Air and Missile Defense Center (IAMDC)". He discussed that the IAMDC is now operational in Abu Dhabi. This state of the art facility will be finished in the 2013-1014 time frame and shows the path forward in terms of interoperability.

Second Plenary Session

The second Plenary Session was moderated by His Excellency Major General (Ret.) Khaled Al Bu Ainnain the Former Commander of the UAE Air Force & Air Defense  and President INEGMA. Mr. Clayton Holt, Middle East Division Chief at the Directorate of International Affairs of the U.S. Missile Defense Agency, presented a paper on "Ballistic Missile Defense Overview", where he considered that ballistic missile technology is spreading rapidly. He also gave a global overview of U.S. anti-ballistic missile programs. Captain Hervé Boy, Chief of the Program Expertise Office at the French Navy Headquarters, briefed the audience on "Maritime Assets and Interoperability in the AMD System". Captain Boy suggested that the need to understand how maritime capabilities interact with land and sea. From this naval perspective it is clear more practice exercises are needed. "Integrated Air & Missile Defense - A Theater Imperative" was the headline of the presentation made by Major General (Ret.) John Urias the Former PEO, Missiles & Space and Deputy Commanding General at the U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command (SMDC). He suggested that the foundation already exists now for a regional air defense system and that shared awareness and solutions are being crafted.

Third Plenary Session

The final Plenary Session of the day was moderated by Mr. Riad Kahwaji. INEGMA's R&D Director, Dr. Theodore Karasik, looked at "Developments in Regional Threat Environment and Interoperability". He argued that the threat environment is shifting and that the UAE possesses the backbone necessary for GCC-wide integration. Major General (Ret.) Tommy Crawford the Former Commander of the U.S. Air Force Command and Control, and Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Center, United States examined the "BMC2 Interoperability and Integration".

MEMAD will discuss on Monday the following subjects: "UAE Network Enabled Capability: A Local Solution to a Global Problem", "Adapting to Seize the Opportunities of Technology", "Reducing Risks and Consequences with the Deployment of Theatre Ballistic Missile Defense", "Consolidating Extended Low Tier Air Defense".