Leaked correspondence has revealed an accelerating pace of military and technological cooperation between the United Arab Emirates and Israel, as the Middle East undergoes a rapid restructuring of its security alliances, particularly following the signing of the Mecca joint defence agreement between Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan.
International intelligence platform Dark Box said discussions between Abu Dhabi and Israeli defence companies have expanded beyond conventional arms purchases to include advanced drones, surveillance systems, intelligence and reconnaissance capabilities, command infrastructure, training, logistical support and even mechanisms for joint defence procurement.
The investigation linked the intensification of these contacts to recent changes in the Gulf security environment, suggesting that Abu Dhabi appears increasingly interested in deepening its military relationship with Israel as defence cooperation expands between Riyadh, Ankara and Islamabad.
Talks With Elbit Systems
The leaked correspondence revealed discussions with Israeli company Elbit Systems over the supply of advanced military systems to the UAE.
These reportedly included Hermes 900 drones, SkyEye surveillance systems, ground control systems, training and logistical support.
The initial proposal was valued at around $154 million, before additional upgrades and equipment discussed in the correspondence raised the potential value of the deal to approximately $225 million.
The correspondence shows an advanced level of discussion over the capabilities Abu Dhabi is seeking to obtain from Israel.
The documents also indicate Emirati interest in other systems, including SkyStriker loitering munitions and Hermes 650 drones.
According to the investigation, this reflects a broader Emirati interest in Israel’s unmanned aerial systems ecosystem rather than in a single platform.
Beyond Traditional Air Defence
The significance of the discussions lies not only in the acquisition of drones to defend Emirati airspace, but also in the development of intelligence and reconnaissance capabilities capable of detecting threats before they reach UAE territory.
The SkyEye system can provide capabilities for monitoring large geographical areas, analysing movements, identifying objects and vehicles, and tracking them.
According to the correspondence, Israeli-Emirati discussions also included solutions aimed at maintaining surveillance beyond the UAE’s borders and identifying the launch sites of missiles and drones.
If these plans are converted into operational capabilities, the cooperation would move beyond conventional defence towards the construction of a broader regional intelligence and surveillance network.
This raises questions over the role Abu Dhabi is seeking to play within the region’s evolving security environment.
From Normalisation to Military Partnership
The Abraham Accords, which formalised open normalisation between the UAE and Israel, provided a political framework that allowed security and military contacts between the two sides to expand.
The relationship has gradually moved from political normalisation towards cooperation in military technology, surveillance, drones, intelligence and defence procurement.
This has reinforced concerns that the UAE has chosen Israel as a strategic partner in advanced military technology, taking advantage of Israeli defence industry capabilities in unmanned systems, reconnaissance, missile defence and electronic warfare.
Israel, in return, gains access to a major Gulf market and the opportunity to export its defence products to an Arab state with significant financial resources and growing regional influence.
The Mecca Agreement Changes the Regional Equation
The growing UAE-Israel relationship comes at a particularly sensitive time, after Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan entered into a joint defence agreement under which an armed attack against any one of the three states is considered an attack against all of them.
The new agreement gives Riyadh, Ankara and Islamabad a security framework that goes beyond traditional Gulf arrangements.
Turkey has an advanced defence industry and extensive drone capabilities. Pakistan possesses a large military and strategic capabilities, while Saudi Arabia remains a major financial, political and military power in the region.
This development raises the question of whether Abu Dhabi is simultaneously moving to build its own security network with a greater reliance on partnership with Israel.
A New Phase in the Regional Arms Race
At the same time, the spread of drones, surveillance systems and intelligence capabilities is opening a new front in the Middle East arms race.
Military competition in the region had previously focused more heavily on fighter aircraft, tanks and conventional missiles.
Advanced reconnaissance systems, long-range drones, sensors and intelligence-gathering networks now provide states with greater ability to monitor adversaries, track their movements and potentially identify missile and drone launch sites before incoming weapons reach their territory.
These capabilities raise concerns that the region could develop into an overlapping network of surveillance, offensive and defensive systems.
As one state expands its capabilities, another may respond by acquiring even more advanced systems, creating an escalating cycle of military competition.
Towards a Long-Term UAE-Israel Security Partnership
The developments in UAE-Israel relations place the partnership in a different phase from the political normalisation announced in 2020.
The relationship is increasingly moving towards more institutionalised military cooperation, particularly through discussions over advanced drone, surveillance and reconnaissance systems, as well as possible joint defence procurement arrangements.
These developments suggest that cooperation between Abu Dhabi and Tel Aviv is evolving into a long-term security partnership.
They also indicate that Abu Dhabi is working to build an integrated defence and intelligence architecture in cooperation with Israel at a time when the broader map of alliances across the Middle East is being redrawn.
