The International Defence Exhibition is underway in the UAE, showcasing the latest defense technology spanning land, sea and air. It's a major event in the Middle East for selling weapons, and plenty of deals will be signed. Jacob Greaves reports from Abu Dhabi.

The UAE's arms fair attracts buyers from every corner of the globe. And this year China has come locked and loaded. There's a sizeable contingent here of Chinese companies. Front and centre for Poly technologies is their truck mounted laser weapons system. And State-owned Narimco have brought their multi-purpose missile launcher known as Red Arrow 10.

JI YANZHAO NARIMCO "I believe that every state-owned company from China they pay very high attention to this area and as I said I believe we are all here to know some new friends and to find some chances to work together with each other."

Traditionally energy-rich Gulf countries have largely relied on weapon imports to bolster defences. With Western allies often providing the bulwark of expertise. But Saudi Arabia, with an annual defence budget of $70 billion, is changing tact as it tries to diversify its economy.

JACOB GREAVES ABU DHABI "One of the key talking points here has been the regional ambition of regional heavyweight Saudi Arabia to localise military spending in the future and become a key exporter itself. Indeed we've heard from Saudi Arabia Military Industries a state-backed company that by 2030 it wants 30% of its revenues to come from exports."

Add to this mix heightened Western scrutiny over selling Saudi Arabia weapons and a possible US troop withdrawal from Syria potentially open the door to others.

RICHARD THOMAS EDITOR-IN-CHIEF, SHEPHARD MEDIA "China definitely sees the GCC as a market it can sell its products into. It also sees countries like Saudi Arabia as countries they can help build their own indigenous manufacturing capabilities, once they've done that then countries like Saudi can sell their platforms not only to the GCC countries but also further overseas, also as the US administration might look to withdraw from the region in terms of military, in terms of diplomatic presence, there's opportunity for China to step into that vacuum and exploit it."

Last year Saudi Arabia agreed to set up the first factory for Chinese drones in the Middle East. And the types of advanced arms showcased here show China is keen to make its presence felt in defence markets JG CGTN, Abu Dhabi.