UAE-Israel Defense: The Accords Trade
Inside the United Arab Emirates' acquisition of Israeli defense systems since the 2020 Abraham Accords — air defense, counter-UAS, drones, cyber, and the bilateral defense trade architecture that grew from zero to 12% of Israeli defense exports in four years.
Per Israel Ministry of Defense / SIBAT data, Abraham Accords destinations grew from 3% of total Israeli defense exports in 2023 to 12% in 2024. The vast majority of that volume flows to the United Arab Emirates, with smaller volumes to Bahrain and Morocco. The growth represents one of the fastest bilateral defense-trade expansions in modern Middle East commercial history.
The September 2020 signing of the Abraham Accords legalized direct UAE-Israel defense procurement. The Israel-UAE Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), signed in May 2022 and entering into force in April 2023, established the broader bilateral commercial framework within which defense trade now operates. The 2023-2024 Yemen-Houthi attack environment intensified UAE strategic interest in air defense, counter-UAS, and broader integrated defense architecture.
What the UAE has acquired
Public disclosure of specific UAE-Israel defense transactions is limited by both governments and by the involved contractors. Trade-press coverage in Calcalist, Globes, Defense News, Breaking Defense, and the Israeli defense press has confirmed several categories of activity.
Air defense components and integration. UAE strategic interest in integrated air defense — anchored historically by Patriot, THAAD, and a growing layer of UAE-domiciled production — has translated into procurement of Israeli radar, command-and-control, and selected interceptor systems. Specific Israeli contractors with disclosed activity include Elbit Systems, Rafael Advanced Defense Systems, and Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI).
Counter-UAS. The Yemen-Houthi attack environment of 2021-2024 sharpened UAE counter-drone procurement. Israeli counter-UAS systems — radar, electronic warfare, kinetic interceptors — have entered UAE service through multiple disclosed procurement tranches.
Drones and unmanned systems. UAE procurement of Israeli unmanned aerial systems, both for reconnaissance and strike, has expanded since 2020. IAI and Elbit operate as the principal Israeli prime contractors.
Cyber and electronic warfare. UAE procurement of Israeli cyber and electronic-warfare systems has continued, with specific deployment details typically not publicly disclosed.
The institutional architecture
UAE-Israel defense trade operates through SIBAT (the Israeli Ministry of Defense's International Defense Cooperation Directorate), which licenses all Israeli defense exports. Specific transaction values and end-use details are typically withheld from public disclosure for operational security reasons. Aggregate figures are published annually by SIBAT.
Several Israeli defense contractors have established UAE operational presences, either through joint-venture structures with UAE defense entities (EDGE Group is the most prominent UAE-side counterparty) or through standalone Israeli operating subsidiaries.
What 2026 looks like
The 2024-2026 trajectory suggests continued expansion. Per the CEPA framework, the bilateral trade target of $10 billion in annual volume — set when CEPA entered into force in April 2023 — is being approached but has not yet been reached. Defense represents a meaningful share of the trajectory.
The post-October 7 regional security environment did not derail UAE-Israel defense trade. Per coverage in The National, Gulf News, and the Israeli defense press, UAE procurement activity continued through 2024-2026 alongside public-relations pressure on individual UAE institutions to distance from Israeli commercial relationships.
The institutional infrastructure underpinning the bilateral — major UAE acquirers with operational Israeli capability, Israeli contractors with operational UAE capability, established cross-border banking and legal architecture — cannot be rapidly wound down.
Read Next in The Olam
- The UAE–Israel CEPA at Three — The bilateral trade framework
- UAE Adoption of Israeli Cyber and AI Technology — The cyber and AI procurement channel
- Bahrain-Israel: Financial-Sector Activity — The parallel Bahrain corridor
Source data: Israel Ministry of Defense / SIBAT annual reports; UAE government disclosures via WAM (Emirates News Agency); coverage in Calcalist, Globes, Defense News, Breaking Defense, The National, Gulf News, Bloomberg, Reuters. Data current as of Q2 2026.
