The United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Israel are reportedly forming a\njoint fund to acquire and develop new weapon systems amid rising\nregional tensions following the war with Iran. A Middle East Eye report,\nciting current and former US officials familiar with the discussions,\nsays the cooperation would cover joint procurement of air defence\nsystems and counter-unmanned aircraft systems (C-UAS).<\/p>\n
Active US officials have said the two countries will pursue \u2018joint\nacquisition\u2019 of weapons as part of their new defence partnership, with\nthe UAE also said to be financing the development of Israeli air-defence\ntechnology.<\/p>\n
The deal is said to have gained momentum after Prime Minister\nBenjamin Netanyahu secretly visited the UAE during the US-Israel war\nagainst Iran. So far, the Israeli and UAE embassies in Washington have\nnot commented publicly on the report.<\/p>\n
Sources cited by Middle East Eye described the joint fund as focusing\non C-UAS and other air-defence technologies. A former US official said\n\u2018a lot of money\u2019 has been earmarked for the fund and that the\nprocurement could extend beyond air-defence systems.<\/p>\n
Yoel Guzansky, a senior researcher at the Institute for National\nSecurity Studies in Tel Aviv, said UAE-Israel relations are at their\nclosest in history. \u2018The UAE-Israel relationship is the best it has ever\nbeen. This is the closest cooperation Israel has ever had with an Arab\ncountry,\u2019 he said.<\/p>\n
According to Guzansky, the establishment of a joint fund is a logical\nstep given Israel\u2019s advanced defence tech and the UAE\u2019s substantial\nfinancial resources. \u2018Israel needs UAE money. We have technology, but\nlack resources. The UAE has resources, but lacks technology,\u2019 he\nsaid.<\/p>\n
During February\u2019s conflict, Iran launched thousands of drones and\nmissiles at the Gulf in response to US-Israel strikes, with the UAE\namong the hardest hit. The US Ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee, even\nconfirmed that Israel deployed Iron Dome air-defence systems and\npersonnel to the UAE during the conflict.<\/p>\n
Defence cooperation between the UAE and Israel is seen as a\ncontinuation of relations normalised under the Abraham Accords in\n2020.<\/p>\n
In June 2025, UAE defence contractor Edge Group bought a 30% stake in\nIsraeli firm Thirdeye Systems, which develops AI-based drone\ntechnology.<\/p>\n
Bernard Haykel, a Near East studies professor at Princeton\nUniversity, said the arrangement makes sense for both sides. \u2018This is a\ncontinuation of their defence cooperation and it makes sense for both\nparties,\u2019 he commented.<\/p>\n
Eurasia Group analyst Firas Maksad noted Gulf states\u2019 concerns about\nthe outcome of Washington\u2019s dealings with Iran, particularly regarding\nthe Strait of Hormuz and threats from Tehran\u2019s missiles and drones. \u2018As\nthe Iran relationship becomes more confrontational, the UAE is drawing\ncloser to Israel and deepening security ties,\u2019 he said.<\/p>\n
By contrast, Saudi Arabia has broadened security co-operation with\nPakistan, Turkey and Egypt amid concerns about regional stability.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/uae-israel-relations-deepen-as-they-form-a-joint-defence-fund-for-new-weapon-systems-1779545874", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }