UAE defence industry: EDGE Group and national weapons systems
United Arab Emirates14 productsThe United Arab Emirates' defence industry is built around the state-owned EDGE Group, which SIPRI ranks as the largest arms producer in the Middle East. Created in 2019, EDGE groups more than 25 entities making armoured vehicles, guided weapons, drones, small arms and warships, many of them co-developed with foreign partners and produced in the UAE.
Defence products made in United Arab Emirates
In serviceInfantry fighting vehicleRABDANAl Jasoor (EDGE Group)
In productionMine-resistant ambush-protected vehicleJAISNIMR (EDGE Group)
In productionPrecision-guidance kitAL TARIQAL TARIQ (EDGE Group)
In productionPrecision-guided glide weaponDESERT STINGHALCON (EDGE Group)
In productionPrecision-guidance kitTHUNDERHALCON (EDGE Group)
In productionLoitering munitionHUNTER 2-SHALCON / ADVANCED CONCEPTS (EDGE Group)
In productionMALE unmanned aerial vehicleREACH-SADASI (EDGE Group); originally unveiled by HALCON
In productionVTOL unmanned aerial systemGARMOOSHAADASI (EDGE Group)
In developmentShort-range air defence missileSKYKNIGHTHALCON (EDGE Group)
In developmentLight attack and trainer aircraftB-250Calidus
In productionOffshore patrol vessel / missile boatFALAJ 3Abu Dhabi Ship Building - ADSB (EDGE Group)
In productionAssault rifle / carbineCAR 816CARACAL (EDGE Group)
In productionLoitering munitionSHADOW 25 / SHADOW 50ADASI (EDGE Group)
In productionLight tactical vehicleAJBANNIMR (EDGE Group)EDGE Group: structure, growth and revenue
Abu Dhabi launched EDGE Group in November 2019 by consolidating 25 entities, drawn from Emirates Defence Industries Company, Emirates Advanced Investments Group, Tawazun Holding and others, into five clusters with about 12,000 staff. Its portfolio grew from 30 solutions in 2019 to 201 in 2024 and more than 250 by November 2025, when it unveiled 42 new products at the Dubai Airshow.
EDGE reported 2024 revenue of USD 4.9 billion. SIPRI's Top 100 for 2024 lists it with USD 4.29 billion in arms revenue, the largest arms producer in the Middle East. In May 2026 its chief executive, Hamad Al Marar, reported more than USD 25 billion in contracts under execution, about 19,000 employees and more than 80% of its systems produced in the UAE.
Exports and foreign partnerships
International orders rose from USD 18.5 million in 2019 to more than USD 2.1 billion in 2024, and exports now exceed 70% of sales. Major deals include a EUR 1 billion corvette export to Angola (2023), a USD 2.45 billion FALAJ 3 contract with Kuwait (2025) and a USD 7 billion agreement with Indonesia (2025).
Many UAE platforms are co-developed with foreign partners and then built at home: RABDAN is based on Otokar's ARMA, AL TARIQ on Denel's Umbani, FALAJ 3 on an ST Engineering design and the B-250 was designed with Brazil's Novaer. IDEX, held in Abu Dhabi since 1993, remains the main venue for UAE product launches.
Key companies and institutions
Frequently asked questions
What is EDGE Group?
EDGE Group is the UAE's state-owned defence and advanced-technology conglomerate, launched in November 2019 by consolidating 25 entities. SIPRI ranks it as the largest arms producer in the Middle East.
What weapons does the UAE make?
UAE companies build the RABDAN, JAIS and AJBAN armoured vehicles, DESERT STING, THUNDER and AL TARIQ precision weapons, REACH-S and GARMOOSHA drones, CAR 816 rifles and FALAJ 3 patrol vessels, among others.
Does the UAE export weapons?
Yes. EDGE's international orders exceeded USD 2.1 billion in 2024, and exports now account for more than 70% of its sales, with customers including Kuwait, Angola and Indonesia.
