The guiding force behind UAE’S military might
Mohamed began a sweeping modernisation of the military that saw the country acquire some of the most cutting-edge defence technologies and arsenals
he UAE Armed Forces were a largely token military force around 20 years ago, primarily comprising expatriate army men and pilots, lacking battlefield experience save for United Nations peacekeeping missions in conflict-hit Somalia and Kosovo.
But today, the UAE military is easily the most advanced and most powerful army in the Arab world, holding advanced weapons and air defence systems that are the envy of many. The rise of ‘Little Sparta’, as former US Defence Secretary Jim Mattis called it, is the result of decades of planning and a concerted investment to secure peace in the region.
Those intervening 20 years saw several significant changes in the region, including the rise of the influence of Iran and its proxies posing a threat to regional stability, the civil uprisings in other Arab countries, and the UAE’S expanding diplomatic clout.
Through the cloud of those transformations, His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the new President, a trained soldier and pilot, and now the third President of the UAE, clearly saw the need to overhaul and strengthen the country’s military power. A graduate from the Royal Military Academy in Sandhurst, the United Kingdom, where he trained in armour, helicopter flying, tactical flying and paratroops, the charismatic leader rose through the ranks to become air force commander, deputy chief of staff, and finally chief of staff.
As the Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, he began a sweeping
Today, the UAE Armed Forces are admired by many international military organisations and boast a domestic defence industry. There are more than 170 Emirati defence companies producing firearms, guided missiles, drones, aircraft, and naval vessels”
modernisation of the military that saw the country acquire some of the most cutting-edge defence technologies and arsenals. Guided by the directives of the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan and the late Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Sheikh Mohamed helped develop the UAE Armed Forces’ strategic planning, training, organisational structure and defence capabilities.
Today, the UAE Armed Forces are admired by many international military organisations and boast a domestic defence industry. There are more than 170 Emirati defence companies producing firearms, guided missiles, drones, aircraft, and naval vessels. The annual defence exhibition held in Abu Dhabi, Idex, sees several multimillion-dollar contracts being awarded to defence firms, such as a $2 billion deal with Raytheon for Patriot system rocket launchers and a $109 million deal for Lockheed Martin radar systems.
The UAE military is also an ally of the US coalition fighting in the war against terrorism. Closely allied with Saudi Arabia, the UAE Army has played a vital role in fighting the Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen.
It has also wielded its power in regional conflicts in Libya and Syria.
Recently, the UAE made its military power visible when it swiftly responded to Houthi rebels’ missile and drone attacks in Abu Dhabi.
In a statement, the UAE Government had reaffirmed that it “is ready to deal with any threat and is taking all necessary measures to protect the state from all attacks”.
The UAE Army retaliated by bombing the rebels’ military targets and destroying a ballistic missile launcher in northern Yemen from where Houthis had launched two of these missiles at Abu Dhabi.
As part of strengthening its armed forces, the country also made it mandatory for all Emirati males between the ages of 18 and 30 to serve for 18 months in the military. There is no doubt that the UAE, under the able leadership of Sheikh Mohamed, will continue to shape the contours of Middle East geopolitics, and will continue to grow in its diplomatic clout and military might.