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| United Arab Emirates Army | |
|---|---|
| Unit name | United Arab Emirates Army |
| Native name | القوات البرية الإماراتية |
| Caption | Ensign |
| Dates | 1971–present |
| Country | United Arab Emirates |
| Branch | UAE Armed Forces |
| Type | Land forces |
| Role | Ground operations |
| Size | Approx. 44,000 (est.) |
| Garrison | Abu Dhabi |
| Motto | Strength through Unity |
| Commander | Chief of Staff, UAE Armed Forces |
United Arab Emirates Army The United Arab Emirates Army is the principal land component of the UAE Armed Forces, established after the formation of the United Arab Emirates in 1971. It maintains ground combat, armored, artillery, air defense, and engineering capabilities to support national defense policies of the Abu Dhabi-centered federation and contribute to regional operations alongside partners such as Saudi Arabia, United States, and United Kingdom. The force has evolved through procurement relationships with manufacturers in France, Germany, United States, Russia, and South Korea and through participation in multinational coalitions like the Gulf Cooperation Council deployments.
The origins trace to tribal defense forces in the Trucial States era and the 1971 formation of the federation under leaders such as Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan and Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum, responding to threats exemplified by the Dhahran bombing and regional conflicts like the Iran–Iraq War and the Gulf War. During the 1980s and 1990s the army expanded under procurement ties with SAAB, FN Herstal, and BAE Systems, while undergoing structural reforms influenced by doctrines from the United States Central Command, British Army, and French Army. Post-2001, participation alongside ISAF and coalition operations in Afghanistan, Iraq War (2003–2011), and later Operations against ISIL shaped expeditionary capabilities and interoperability. The 2010s saw operations in the Yemen Civil War and security cooperation within the Arab League and United Nations peacekeeping frameworks.
The army is organized into brigades, divisions, and specialized regiments under the command of the UAE Ministry of Defense and the UAE Armed Forces General Headquarters. Key subunits include armored brigades equipped via contracts with Nexter Systems, mechanized infantry trained with doctrine from Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, artillery regiments coordinated with NATO standards, and air defense formations using systems procured from Russia and China. Regional command and logistical hubs are sited in Abu Dhabi, Dubai, and Sharjah, with liaison arrangements linking to Combined Joint Task Force structures and bilateral commands with United States Central Command and Saudi Arabian Armed Forces.
Personnel recruit from Emirati nationals supplemented by expatriate technical specialists and contractors from states including Pakistan, Egypt, and Jordan. Officer training pathways include attendance at institutions such as Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, United States Military Academy, and the Khalifa bin Zayed Air College for joint instruction; NCO development leverages courses influenced by the British Army and French Foreign Legion practices. Training exercises range from desert warfare drills with Australian Defence Force observers to urban operations rehearsals aligned with lessons from Battle of Fallujah case studies and counterinsurgency approaches derived from FM 3-24 legacy concepts.
Equipment portfolios blend Western and Eastern platforms: main battle tanks from Russia and United Kingdom designs, infantry fighting vehicles from Germany and South Korea, attack helicopters from Boeing and Eurocopter, and air defense missiles from S-300 derivatives and Western systems. Artillery includes self-propelled howitzers procured from Nexter alongside rocket artillery compatible with Multiple Launch Rocket System doctrine. Logistics and engineering capabilities are supported by heavy equipment from Caterpillar Inc., bridging assets from Palfinger, and electronic warfare suites sourced via cooperation with Thales Group and Raytheon. Force projection capability is supplemented by UAE Navy sealift and interoperability with United States Central Command enablers.
Operational history comprises coalition contributions to the 1991 Gulf War, deployment to Balkans peace support under UNPROFOR-style frameworks, counterterrorism operations in Afghanistan alongside ISAF, and sustained involvement in the Yemen Civil War as part of the Saudi-led coalition. The army has provided humanitarian assistance during crises such as the 2011 Libyan civil war fallout and pandemic-era logistics cooperation with World Health Organization partners. Overseas training deployments and joint exercises include participation in Eager Lion, Bright Star, and bilateral maneuvers with France and China.
Doctrine emphasizes combined arms integration, expeditionary readiness, and protection of critical infrastructure in support of national security strategies emanating from the Abu Dhabi Executive Council and directives by senior leaders like Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. Strategy integrates lessons from modern conflicts including Operation Iraqi Freedom and Syrian Civil War contingencies, prioritizing mobility, urban operations, counterinsurgency, and integrated air-defense. The doctrine aligns with interoperability frameworks promulgated by NATO partners during joint exercises and with contingency planning coordinated with Gulf Cooperation Council member states.
Modernization programs focus on acquiring next-generation battlefield management systems, active protection systems from vendors such as Rafael Advanced Defense Systems and Kongsberg, and unmanned systems from General Atomics and Baykar. Recent procurements include armored vehicles from Patria, artillery upgrades through Denel, and helicopter acquisition agreements with Sikorsky and Airbus Helicopters. Procurement strategy balances purchases from Western suppliers, niche capabilities from Israel Aerospace Industries, and diversification via deals with South Korea and Italy to enhance resilience against embargo risks and to build domestic maintenance and defense industries in partnership with Mubadala Investment Company.