United Arab Emirates Army

Sharjah-Fujairah border conflicts

In February 1973 following a brief border war between armed Bedouin tribesmen from both Sharjah Emirate and Fujairah Emirate over a disputed area of land which covered a quarter of an acre and included water wells and date palm trees. 22 people were killed and another 12 were wounded before UDF troops were able to impose a ceasefire.

First Gulf War

During the War against Iraq, UAE troops reported that they have deployed several thousands of men in that engagement. The UDF participated in the conflict as part of the GCC, as part of the Peninsula Shield force that advanced into the city of Kuwait. United States military aviation bombed the Iraqi positions from the UAE, and United States ships operated out of UAE ports along the coast of the Persian Gulf. The UAE Air Force also carried out strikes against Iraqi forces. A total of six UAE combat deaths were reported as a result of these battles.

Yemeni Civil War (2015-present)

During the 2015 Yemeni Civil War the United Arab Emirates Army intervened in support of fighters loyal to the ousted regime of Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi against Houthi militants. UAE troops assisted anti-Houthi fighters in the re-taking of the strategic southern Yemeni port city of Aden and also Al Anad Air Base, the largest airbase in Yemen.

On 4 September 2015 the army suffered its heaviest loss in modern history, losing 52 soldiers in war in Yemen to a tactical ballistic missile strike.^[1] The UAE has since deployed an entire armoured brigade to Yemen.^[2]

Up until May 2017 the UAE forces have suffered 89 casualties.^[3][4][5]

On 3 May 2018, the United Arab Emirates deployed over 100 troops, artillery and armoured vehicles to the Yemeni archipelago of Socotra in the Arabian Sea without prior coordination with the internationally recognised Government of Yemen^[6]. Shortly after landing, UAE forces expelled Yemeni soldiers stationed at key installations, including Socotra Airport and the flag of the United Arab Emirates was raised above official government buildings in Hadibu.^[7]

Vehicles

Model	Image	Origin	Type	Number	Notes
Armoured vehicles
AMX Leclerc		France	Main Battle Tank	434	388 + 46 armoured recovery vehicles As of March 2018.
Reconnaissance vehicle
FV101 Scorpion		United Kingdom	Reconnaissance vehicle	76
Armoured personnel carrier
AMX-10P		France	Armoured personnel carrier	11
Patria AMV		Finland  Poland	Armoured personnel carrier	40	The United Arab Emirates Army ordered[8] an initial evaluation batch of 15 vehicles.[9] Some of these vehicles will be equipped with the Patria Nemo turret while others will be equipped with BMP-3 turrets and have therefore been slightly modified, including a somewhat longer hull.[10] In January 2016, the General Headquarters of the UAE armed forces ordered 40 Patria AMV hulls with the option of 50 more.[11][12] The vehicles were shipped in June 2016 from Patria's Polish production line.[13] The Patrias are used in Yemen in combat operations.[14]
EE-11 Urutu		Brazil	Armoured personnel carrier	60[15]
BTR-3		Ukraine	Armored personnel carrier	90	Used By UAE Marines and 90 Guardians.[16]
Infantry Fighting Vehicle
FNSS ACV-15		Turkey	Armored fighting vehicle	133	[17] 133 ACV-300 in service.
BMP-3		Russia	Infantry Fighting Vehicle	598	250 for Abu Dhabi and 402 for Dubai[18] (of which 391 delivered in 1992–1997) with "Namut" thermal sight and other modifications. They are under further upgrade with modular armour "Kaktus" and UTD-32 engine.[19]
AMX-10P]		France	Infantry Fighting Vehicle	18
Non-Combat Armoured vehicles
Nimr		United Arab Emirates	Multipurpose wheeled vehicle.	3000
Oshkosh M-ATV		United States	Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected	794
International MaxxPro		United States	MRAP Category 1 & 2	3375	3,375 MaxxPros of various versions on order.[20]
BAE Caiman		United States	MRAP Category 1 & 2	388 active 321 available 222 operational	In September 2014, the U.S. approved a $2.5 billion deal with the United Arab Emirates Army for over 4,500 surplus U.S. MRAPs for increased force protection, conducting humanitarian assistance operations, and protecting vital international commercial trade routes and critical infrastructure. 1,150 vehicles were Caimans.[20]
RG-31 Nyala		South Africa	Infantry Mobility Vehicle	76
TPz Fuchs		West Germany	NBCRS (Nuclear Biological Chemical Reconnaissance System)	32	32 Fuchs 2 NBC reconnaissance vehicles ordered in February 2005 under a contract valued at EUR160 million (USD205 million).[21] The order comprises 16 NBC reconnaissance vehicles, eight bio vehicles and eight command post vehicles, which will provide the UAE with a complete NBC detection capability linked to a command-and-control system.[21]

Artillery and air defence

Model	Image	Origin	Type	Number	Notes
Self-propelled artillery
G6 howitzer		South Africa	Self-propelled artillery	78	78 systems[22]
M109 howitzer		United States	Self-propelled artillery	87	40 (from Switzerland)
Mk F3 155mm		France	Self-propelled artillery	18
Artillery and air defence
Jobaria Multiple Cradle Launcher		United Arab Emirates	Multiple rocket launcher	24	world's largest multiple rocket launcher unique to the United Arab Emirates Army.
BM-21 Grad		Soviet Union	Multiple rocket launcher	48
Towed Howitzer
L118 light gun		United Kingdom	Field gun	56
Type 59		China	Field gun	20	Type 59 variant[15]
Ballistic missiles
Hwasong-5		North Korea	Tactical SRBM	24	United Arab Emirates purchased Hwasong-5 missiles in 1989.[23]
Surface-to-air missile
Rapier		United Kingdom	Short-range Surface-to-air missile	24

Infantry weapons

Model	Image	Origin	Type	Caliber	Notes
Handguns
Browning Hi-Power		Belgium	Handgun	9×19mm Parabellum	[24]
Heckler & Koch P7		West Germany	Handgun	9×19mm Parabellum	P7M13 variant.[24]
Caracal pistol		United Arab Emirates	Handgun	9×19mm Parabellum	Primary service issued pistol.[25]
SIG P228		Switzerland	Handgun	9×19mm Parabellum
Submachine guns
Heckler & Koch MP5		West Germany	Submachine Gun	9×19mm Parabellum	.
Rifles
CAR 816/Sultan		United Arab Emirates	Assault Rifle	5.56×45mm NATO	Primary service issued rifle.[26] Rifles are engraved honoring Colonel Sultan Mohammad Ali Al Ketbi's.[27]
FAMAS		France	Bullpup assault Rifle	5.56×45mm NATO	In use with the Special Forces.[28]
AK-47		Soviet Union	Assault Rifle	7.62×39mm	Arsenal is captured or collected from enemy.[29]
FN FAL		Belgium	Assault Rifle	7.62×51mm NATO	In reserve since 2010.[24]
Heckler & Koch G3		West Germany	Battle Rifle	7.62×51mm NATO	In reserve.[24]
M4 carbine		United States	Carbine	5.56×45mm NATO	Previous standard issue service rifle. Purchased 2,500 M4 carbines in 1993.[30]
M16A4		United States	Assault Rifle	5.56×45mm NATO	In reserve.[31]
T91 assault rifle		Taiwan	Assault Rifle	5.56×45mm NATO	Special forces only. 30,000 rifles[32]
Machine guns
FN Minimi		Belgium	Light machine gun	5.56×45mm NATO	Standard light machine gun of the United Arab Emirates Army.
Rheinmetall MG3		West Germany	General-purpose machine gun	5.56×45mm NATO	HK23E variant.[24]
Heckler & Koch MG5		Germany	General-purpose machine gun	7.62×51mm NATO
M2 Browning		United States	Heavy machine gun	12.7×99mm NATO	Standard heavy machine gun United Arab Emirate. Mostly as vehicle armament.[24]
Sniper rifles
Lobaev Sniper Rifle		Russia  United Arab Emirates	Sniper Rifle	.50 BMG
Heckler & Koch MSG90		Germany	Designated Marksman Rifle	7.62×51mm NATO
M107/M107A1		United States	Anti-materiel rifle	12.7×99mm NATO	Standard Issue Sniper Rifle.[33]
Grenade launchers
M203 grenade launcher		United States	Grenade launcher	40×46mm
Anti-tank weapons
AT-5 Spandrel		Soviet Union	Anti-tank Missile	135mm

Retired equipment

• AMX-30S – 45 (ordered 1977, is phased out from service)
• OF-40 Mk.2 – 36 (all of these MBT are phased out from service)