Live updates: Follow the latest on Trump's Gulf trip
Saudi Arabia has struck what the White House has called the “largest defence sales agreement in history”, agreeing a $142 billion deal that will include missiles, armoured vehicles and aircraft.
In a major boost for the kingdom’s armed forces and American defence companies, a significant part of the deal will be 1,000 advanced air-to-air missiles as well as 2,000 “precision kill system” rockets and will include upgrades to the Thaad (Terminal High Altitude Area Defence) system and more Patriot PAC-3 air defence missiles.
The deal will also encompass new space capabilities, maritime and coast security as well as a modernisation programme for the land forces.
Saudi Arabia is also expected to purchase armed SeaGuardian drones that will allow it to step up patrols over the Arabian Gulf and C-130J Super Hercules transport aircraft that are ideal for short landing strips in desert operations.
It is understood that the Saudi National Guard will receive a significant upgrade to its ageing equipment, including new eight-wheeled armoured vehicles, probably the highly effective US Strykers.
The agreement was announced towards the end of US President Donald Trump's tour of Saudi Arabia, before he headed to Qatar and the UAE.
There have been discussions about the potential for Lockheed's F-35 stealth jets, which Saudi Arabia has been interested in for years, but a deal to supply the platform is no longer imminent. Military expert Francis Tusa, editor of the Defence Eye website, said the deal would modernise the armed forces.
“This overall package should keep Saudi Arabia’s armed forces relevant and well-defended for a long time. They've always got an eye on Iran and there's never a time they're not going to be looking north.”
The package included “extensive training and support to build the capacity of the Saudi armed forces, including enhancement of Saudi service academies and military medical services,” the White House said. The agreement is part of a broader package that the White House said will total $600bn.
Air-to-air missiles
One thousand AIM-120C-8 Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missiles (Amraam) will be ordered in a deal with an estimated total cost of $3.5 billion. The AIM 120s are a highly capable “beyond visual range” missiles similar to the Chinese made PL-15 that is thought to have shot down at least one Indian air force Rafale jet last week.
It has a range of 160km, with a 20kg warhead, travels at Mach 4 and is capable of all-weather day or night operations.
“This proposed sale will support the foreign policy goals and national security objectives of the United States by improving the security of a partner country that contributes to political stability and economic progress in the Gulf Region,” the US's Defence Security Co-operation Agency (DSCA) stated.
MQ-9B SeaGuardian
Designed to fly independently for more than 30 hours, the SeaGuardian will give Saudi Arabia’s armed forces not only excellent surveillance capabilities but the ability to strike at enemies if required.
With significantly improved power, the MQ-9B can carry eight Hellfire precision missiles or two Paveway-II 230kg bombs allowing strikes on targets of opportunity.
Circling at 12,000 metres, it has the ability to track Iranian shipping movements in the Gulf or potential Houthi drone attacks. However, the Reaper version of the $33 million aircraft has proven to be vulnerable to air defences with an estimated 15 US aircraft lost over Yemen since 2023.
Lightweight rockets
The Advanced Precision Kill Weapon Systems (APKWS) are laser-guided lightweight rockets fired from either helicopters or fighters.
They have a range of up to 11km and a high speed of 1,000 metres per second. The 15kg weapon, the size of which means its warhead causes minimum collateral damage, costs $22,000 each. Saudi Arabia has ordered 2,000 of them, along with support systems.
“The proposed sale will improve the kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s capability to meet current and future threats and give it the ability to precisely engage targets with much less risk of collateral damage than other guided missile systems,” DSCA stated.
Stryker wheels
The armoured personnel carrier is eight-wheeled highly versatile and battle-proven weapon that has formed the backbone of US brigade combat teams for three decades.
The 18-tonne vehicle can carry nine soldiers and is armed with a .50 calibre heavy machinegun or can be mounted with a 105mm gun.
The first Stryker brigades were deployed in the 2003 invasion of Iraq and were also used in the Afghanistan campaign. They are still in use by US special forces in their fight against ISIS in northern Syria.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre flat-six
Torque: 450Nm at 6,100rpm
Transmission: 7-speed PDK auto or 6-speed manual
Fuel economy, combined: 13.8L/100km
On sale: Available to order now
How to wear a kandura
Dos
- Wear the right fabric for the right season and occasion
- Always ask for the dress code if you don’t know
- Wear a white kandura, white ghutra / shemagh (headwear) and black shoes for work
- Wear 100 per cent cotton under the kandura as most fabrics are polyester
Don’ts
- Wear hamdania for work, always wear a ghutra and agal
- Buy a kandura only based on how it feels; ask questions about the fabric and understand what you are buying
Specs
Engine: Duel electric motors
Power: 659hp
Torque: 1075Nm
On sale: Available for pre-order now
Price: On request
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
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Milestones on the road to union
1970
October 26: Bahrain withdraws from a proposal to create a federation of nine with the seven Trucial States and Qatar.
December: Ahmed Al Suwaidi visits New York to discuss potential UN membership.
1971
March 1: Alex Douglas Hume, Conservative foreign secretary confirms that Britain will leave the Gulf and “strongly supports” the creation of a Union of Arab Emirates.
July 12: Historic meeting at which Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid make a binding agreement to create what will become the UAE.
July 18: It is announced that the UAE will be formed from six emirates, with a proposed constitution signed. RAK is not yet part of the agreement.
August 6: The fifth anniversary of Sheikh Zayed becoming Ruler of Abu Dhabi, with official celebrations deferred until later in the year.
August 15: Bahrain becomes independent.
September 3: Qatar becomes independent.
November 23-25: Meeting with Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid and senior British officials to fix December 2 as date of creation of the UAE.
November 29: At 5.30pm Iranian forces seize the Greater and Lesser Tunbs by force.
November 30: Despite a power sharing agreement, Tehran takes full control of Abu Musa.
November 31: UK officials visit all six participating Emirates to formally end the Trucial States treaties
December 2: 11am, Dubai. New Supreme Council formally elects Sheikh Zayed as President. Treaty of Friendship signed with the UK. 11.30am. Flag raising ceremony at Union House and Al Manhal Palace in Abu Dhabi witnessed by Sheikh Khalifa, then Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi.
December 6: Arab League formally admits the UAE. The first British Ambassador presents his credentials to Sheikh Zayed.
December 9: UAE joins the United Nations.
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
Sheikh Zayed's poem
When it is unveiled at Abu Dhabi Art, the Standing Tall exhibition will appear as an interplay of poetry and art. The 100 scarves are 100 fragments surrounding five, figurative, female sculptures, and both sculptures and scarves are hand-embroidered by a group of refugee women artisans, who used the Palestinian cross-stitch embroidery art of tatreez. Fragments of Sheikh Zayed’s poem Your Love is Ruling My Heart, written in Arabic as a love poem to his nation, are embroidered onto both the sculptures and the scarves. Here is the English translation.
Your love is ruling over my heart
Your love is ruling over my heart, even a mountain can’t bear all of it
Woe for my heart of such a love, if it befell it and made it its home
You came on me like a gleaming sun, you are the cure for my soul of its sickness
Be lenient on me, oh tender one, and have mercy on who because of you is in ruins
You are like the Ajeed Al-reem [leader of the gazelle herd] for my country, the source of all of its knowledge
You waddle even when you stand still, with feet white like the blooming of the dates of the palm
Oh, who wishes to deprive me of sleep, the night has ended and I still have not seen you
You are the cure for my sickness and my support, you dried my throat up let me go and damp it
Help me, oh children of mine, for in his love my life will pass me by.
THE BIO:
Sabri Razouk, 74
Athlete and fitness trainer
Married, father of six
Favourite exercise: Bench press
Must-eat weekly meal: Steak with beans, carrots, broccoli, crust and corn
Power drink: A glass of yoghurt
Role model: Any good man
HIJRA
Starring: Lamar Faden, Khairiah Nathmy, Nawaf Al-Dhufairy
Director: Shahad Ameen
Rating: 3/5
The years Ramadan fell in May
What can victims do?
Always use only regulated platforms
Stop all transactions and communication on suspicion
Save all evidence (screenshots, chat logs, transaction IDs)
Report to local authorities
Warn others to prevent further harm
Courtesy: Crystal Intelligence
SPEC%20SHEET%3A%20APPLE%20M3%20MACBOOK%20AIR%20(13%22)
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The years Ramadan fell in May
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Sri Lanka-India Test series schedule
- 1st Test India won by 304 runs at Galle
- 2nd Test Thursday-Monday at Colombo
- 3rd Test August 12-16 at Pallekele
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The specs
Engine: 1.5-litre, 4-cylinder turbo
Transmission: CVT
Power: 170bhp
Torque: 220Nm
Price: Dh98,900
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
PSL FINAL
Multan Sultans v Peshawar Zalmi
8pm, Thursday
Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi
The Sand Castle
Director: Matty Brown
Stars: Nadine Labaki, Ziad Bakri, Zain Al Rafeea, Riman Al Rafeea
Rating: 2.5/5
