Welcoming a record number of 10,000 visitors including the largest number of international defense manufacturers the event has ever seen in its 13 year history, with over 300 exhibitors from 60 countries in addition to more than 300 official military and governmental representatives from 55 countries.

Mr. Amer Tabbah, managing director of Sofex, said, "I am very proud to say that yet again Sofex has managed to build on the success of its previous editions and surpass the records set in 2006 in terms of exhibitors, visitors, military delegations as well as government and military VIP's. The Sofex team is preparing to host the largest Special Operations and Homeland Security Exhibition and Conference in the MENA Region."

Mr. Tabbah went on to say, "The exhibition site has been expanded to over 70,000 m² of indoor and outdoor space to accommodate the increased number of participants, as well as to enable exhibitors to perform a greater number of live demonstrations and mobility displays. This year we are also expecting some truly amazing demonstrations of the capabilities that are now available in the field of Special Operations and Homeland Security. In some cases it will be the first time this equipment has been demonstrated anywhere in public."

Further demonstrating the value and importance acquired by Sofex, due its exclusive focus on special operations forces and homeland security, many of the international exhibitors have significantly increased space requirements for their national pavilions. Turkey will have a significant presence this year, having increased its participation by around 900 percent, whilst US exhibitors have again increased their participation, with a 50 percent increase on their participation at Sofex 2006. Germany has also announced that it will be doubling its pavilion space, with China expected to increase its representation by approximately five fold and Jordan's participation increasing by a remarkable 300 percent. Sofex 2008 will also be introducing several first time participants, which will include Greece, Finland, Korea and Slovakia, whilst Italy will have a presence as a country pavilion for the first time.

The extensive exhibition, which will take place on April 1st-April 3rd, will showcase the most up-to-date special operations equipment and technology, designed to provide Jordanian, regional and international companies with the opportunity to participate and display their know-how and technologies, tactics and equipment to their key target audiences. Delegations will also have the opportunity to update themselves with the latest defense and homeland security technologies. Preceding the exhibition is a conference that will be held on March 31st at Le Royal Hotel in Amman, organized byDefense News and INEGMA who have worked alongside the Jordanian Special Operations Command and Sofex to identify and invite top-level military speakers for this VIP conference. The Sofex 2008 "Middle East Special Operations Commanders Conference" will attract 500 high ranking decision makers from the regional and international defense community, including senior government decision-makers and security analysts speaking about a wide range of issues pertinent to current global defense and homeland security issues. The 7th edition of the Sofex series will be held under the Patronage of His Majesty King Abdullah II, and the supervision of HRH Prince Feisal, Chairman of the Board of Sofex and with the full support of the Jordanian Armed Forces.