Israel Deploys Iron Dome Air Defense System to UAE Amid Rising Iranian Threats

Israeli Transport Minister and Cabinet member Miri Regev confirmed on Sunday in a Galatz interview that Israel has sent Iron Dome missile defense batteries to the United Arab Emirates during the ongoing conflict. This move aims to help protect UAE residents from aerial threats and marks an unprecedented level of security cooperation between the two countries. The confirmation follows a report from two and a half months ago by journalist Barak Ravid on the American news site Axios.

In recent years, the UAE has purchased Barak MX and Spyder air defense systems from Israel Aerospace Industries and Rafael Advanced Defense Systems to bolster its aerial defenses. However, deploying the Iron Dome system, widely regarded as the world’s most effective air defense system and operated by Israeli Defense Forces personnel, is unprecedented. The Iron Dome itself is considered a sensitive Israeli technology and until now has only been sold to the United States, although its radar and control systems have been sold separately to several foreign countries.

Since the start of the war, the UAE has been Iran’s primary target in the region. According to the UAE Ministry of Defense, Iran launched approximately 550 cruise and ballistic missiles and over 2,200 drones toward the UAE. While most were intercepted, some managed to strike military and civilian targets.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reportedly instructed the IDF to send an Iron Dome battery with several dozen soldiers following a conversation with UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed. A senior Israeli official noted this was the first time Israel deployed an Iron Dome battery to another country, making the UAE the first nation outside the US and Israel to operate the system in the field.