This was on the opening day of the 19th Dubai Airshow, where the UAE’s Tawazun Council for Defence Enablement announced a major deal for eight contracts on behalf of the Ministry of Defence worth AED 3.776 billion.
Local Partnerships Power the Majority
Of these, six were with UAE-based companies, amounting to AED 3.041 billion.
Key local agreements include:
Global Air Navigation Services: AED 1.294 billion for air navigation services and specialized manpower.
Global Aerospace Logistics (GAL) – AED 600 million, spare parts, technical support, and follow-on maintenance.
International Golden Group – IGG Two contracts: AED 415 million for aircraft support and AED 299 million for manufacturing airdrop parachutes.
Maximus Air – AED 293 million to lease aircraft.
Abu Dhabi Shipping Agency – AED 137 million for aircraft rental services.
Global Defence Players Join In
Tawazun also signed key agreements with international defence companies:
Airbus Helicopters (France): AED 512 million for H Care helicopter support.
Embraer, Brazil: AED 212 million for VIP aircraft production.
Strategic and Economic Implications
Tawazun said these contracts are an important contribution to increasing the UAE’s military preparedness by deepening its defence-industrial ecosystem through the integration of indigenous capacity with global expertise.
This also supports the broader national strategy relating to innovation, reinforcing public-private partnerships, and securing the UAE’s status as a leading player in regional defence.
Why It Matters
Local capacity building: A greater share is allocated to UAE companies to strengthen the domestic defence industry.
Global collaboration: partnerships with Airbus and Embraer bring international technology and credibility.
Strategic growth shows the commitment by the UAE towards expanding its role in the advanced defence and aerospace sectors.
