The Gulf has been on tenterhooks in recent weeks, until news of the ceasefire between Iran and Israel was met with a collective sigh of relief.
Conflict in this region, so close to home, is unfortunately nothing new, and at times like these lessons from the past can provide the greatest value. Sometimes, the ability to exercise force can be the best form of defence.
This was a lesson not lost on the Emirates when Saddam Hussein's Iraq invaded Kuwait in 1990. It was at this moment, Hamad Al Marar told The National, that the UAE saw how vulnerable nations could be without control over their own defence capabilities.
The managing director and chief executive of Edge, the biggest defence conglomerate in the country, said it bore the seed of a homegrown industry built to protect national sovereignty.
What role does Edge play today?
“The defence industry in the UAE dates back to 1991,” he said. “Post the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait, the UAE saw the importance of starting the defence industry and creating sovereignty in several domains.”
Today, Edge is at the heart of that vision. Established in November 2019, the group was formed through a wave of mergers and acquisitions that brought together more than 35 entities into six advanced technology and defence clusters.
“Edge is the national champion when it comes to defence,” Mr Al Marar said. “We serve everything from the bullet to the satellite.”
That includes land, sea and air platforms, electronic warfare, cyber defence and homeland security. The group is also focused on artificial intelligence, smart materials, robotics and 3D printing.
Of more than 200 defence products currently in Edge's portfolio, more than 80 per cent are manufactured locally – a number the group is very proud of. The group also has a presence in more than 100 countries, with entities in Latin America, three in Europe and plans to expand to Asia and Africa.
In a move that goes full circle to Mr Al Marar's point that the UAE's military awakening came in 1991, one of the group's most recent deals was the sale of supply ships to Kuwait. Even with this scale, Mr Al Marar sees Edge as a company driven by agility, constantly adapting to new threats and technologies.
“Everything happening around us makes us rethink the way we used to design or produce,” he said. “New manufacturing methods, from steel printing to intelligent platforms, are part of this evolution. Technology is maturing, making lots of missions possible and we do see a dual use in many of the applications and technologies we have today.”
Keeping us safe
Particularly in the light of recent geopolitical tensions, Mr Al Marar said deterrence, not destruction, is always the goal.
“Why is there always the idea that conflict should be an army or a nation against another nation?” Illicit fishing and drug smuggling, he said, can be as much of a security threat as any army, which is why “readiness” remains the guiding principle.
“I always take this example,” he said. “You might go to the gym to stay healthy. Those hours in the gym are actually the inventory of weapons. You have to be strong. In the presence of CCTV, over 90 per cent of thefts are eliminated. So when people know you’re armed, it’s less likely they will attack you.”
He said Abu Dhabi is considered one of the safest cities in the world not because its people are different, but because of strategy and technology.
Building a legacy of success
That philosophy is also reflected in Edge's internal culture. The group has more than 14,000 employees, including 3,000 engineers – 50 per cent of them Emiratis, and 82 per cent of the Emiratis are women.
In June, Edge won gold at the 2025 Employee Happiness Awards, in the category of Best Company to Work For (Large). It was also certified as a Great Place to Work in December 2024.
“It’s software, it’s material science, it’s robotics,” Mr Al Marar said. “It’s the finest form of design – basically heaven for engineers.”
His own journey is proof of the Emirati talent Edge celebrates. While many of his peers studied abroad, he stayed to study accounting at the Higher Colleges of Technology. Smiling, he added that he cannot live for long outside the Emirates because of his love for home. “I basically cannot live for long outside the country. I like it here.”
He started his career in the early days of Tawazun, a UAE-based government entity focused on defence and security acquisition, and has spent more than 20 years in the industry. “I was fortunate to be at the right place at the right time and worked with brilliant teams to actually see this industry get formed in the way we see today.”
His biggest hope is to leave behind an industry that is fully sovereign. “I have a soft spot for self-determination,” he said. “And I want to be a reason to give the UAE the ability to defend and the ability to strike.”
The next chapter, he said, will focus on technological upgrades and continuous improvement. “Everything we’ve done fits into the bigger picture,” he said. “It’s a strategy to make the UAE sovereign. And the real asset of the country – it’s not the machines. It’s the people.”
How the past helps us look forward
The UAE's armed forces officially unified in 1976 and have participated in multiple conflicts since. The first major contribution was in the Arab Deterrent Force peacekeeping mission in Lebanon in the late 1970s. Yet, as Mr Al Marar noted, the Gulf War was arguably a watershed moment.
The UAE Army participated in the conflict, with 10 Emiratis losing their lives in the liberation of Kuwait from Iraq. Three decades after that invasion, the UAE isn't just protecting itself – it is proving what local vision and talent can accomplish.
UAE's military strength on show at Union Fortress 10 parade – in pictures
Company name: Play:Date
Launched: March 2017 on UAE Mother’s Day
Founder: Shamim Kassibawi
Based: Dubai with operations in the UAE and US
Sector: Tech
Size: 20 employees
Stage of funding: Seed
Investors: Three founders (two silent co-founders) and one venture capital fund
How to vote
Canadians living in the UAE can register to vote online and be added to the International Register of Electors.
They'll then be sent a special ballot voting kit by mail either to their address, the Consulate General of Canada to the UAE in Dubai or The Embassy of Canada in Abu Dhabi
Registered voters mark the ballot with their choice and must send it back by 6pm Eastern time on October 21 (2am next Friday)
How to watch Ireland v Pakistan in UAE
When: The one-off Test starts on Friday, May 11
What time: Each day’s play is scheduled to start at 2pm UAE time.
TV: The match will be broadcast on OSN Sports Cricket HD. Subscribers to the channel can also stream the action live on OSN Play.
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War 2
Director: Ayan Mukerji
Stars: Hrithik Roshan, NTR, Kiara Advani, Ashutosh Rana
Rating: 2/5
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More on animal trafficking
The five pillars of Islam
1. Fasting
2. Prayer
3. Hajj
4. Shahada
5. Zakat
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
If you go
The flights
There are direct flights from Dubai to Sofia with FlyDubai (www.flydubai.com) and Wizz Air (www.wizzair.com), from Dh1,164 and Dh822 return including taxes, respectively.
The trip
Plovdiv is 150km from Sofia, with an hourly bus service taking around 2 hours and costing $16 (Dh58). The Rhodopes can be reached from Sofia in between 2-4hours.
The trip was organised by Bulguides (www.bulguides.com), which organises guided trips throughout Bulgaria. Guiding, accommodation, food and transfers from Plovdiv to the mountains and back costs around 170 USD for a four-day, three-night trip.
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
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
THE LOWDOWN
Romeo Akbar Walter
Rating: 2/5 stars
Produced by: Dharma Productions, Azure Entertainment
Directed by: Robby Grewal
Cast: John Abraham, Mouni Roy, Jackie Shroff and Sikandar Kher
Oppenheimer
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
F1 The Movie
Starring: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem
Director: Joseph Kosinski
Rating: 4/5
The specs
Engine: 2.7-litre 4-cylinder Turbomax
Power: 310hp
Torque: 583Nm
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
Price: From Dh192,500
On sale: Now
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PROFILE OF SWVL
Started: April 2017
Founders: Mostafa Kandil, Ahmed Sabbah and Mahmoud Nouh
Based: Cairo, Egypt
Sector: transport
Size: 450 employees
Investment: approximately $80 million
Investors include: Dubai’s Beco Capital, US’s Endeavor Catalyst, China’s MSA, Egypt’s Sawari Ventures, Sweden’s Vostok New Ventures, Property Finder CEO Michael Lahyani
The 12 Syrian entities delisted by UK
Ministry of Interior
Ministry of Defence
General Intelligence Directorate
Air Force Intelligence Agency
Political Security Directorate
Syrian National Security Bureau
Military Intelligence Directorate
Army Supply Bureau
General Organisation of Radio and TV
Al Watan newspaper
Cham Press TV
Sama TV
FORSPOKEN
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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From Zero
Artist: Linkin Park
Label: Warner Records
Number of tracks: 11
Rating: 4/5
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
HEADLINE HERE
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More from Neighbourhood Watch:
Read more from Aya Iskandarani
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The five pillars of Islam
Tips for newlyweds to better manage finances
All couples are unique and have to create a financial blueprint that is most suitable for their relationship, says Vijay Valecha, chief investment officer at Century Financial. He offers his top five tips for couples to better manage their finances.
Discuss your assets and debts: When married, it’s important to understand each other’s personal financial situation. It’s necessary to know upfront what each party brings to the table, as debts and assets affect spending habits and joint loan qualifications. Discussing all aspects of their finances as a couple prevents anyone from being blindsided later.
Decide on the financial/saving goals: Spouses should independently list their top goals and share their lists with one another to shape a joint plan. Writing down clear goals will help them determine how much to save each month, how much to put aside for short-term goals, and how they will reach their long-term financial goals.
Set a budget: A budget can keep the couple be mindful of their income and expenses. With a monthly budget, couples will know exactly how much they can spend in a category each month, how much they have to work with and what spending areas need to be evaluated.
Decide who manages what: When it comes to handling finances, it’s a good idea to decide who manages what. For example, one person might take on the day-to-day bills, while the other tackles long-term investments and retirement plans.
Money date nights: Talking about money should be a healthy, ongoing conversation and couples should not wait for something to go wrong. They should set time aside every month to talk about future financial decisions and see the progress they’ve made together towards accomplishing their goals.
Dust and sand storms compared
Sand storm
- Particle size: Larger, heavier sand grains
- Visibility: Often dramatic with thick "walls" of sand
- Duration: Short-lived, typically localised
- Travel distance: Limited
- Source: Open desert areas with strong winds
Dust storm
- Particle size: Much finer, lightweight particles
- Visibility: Hazy skies but less intense
- Duration: Can linger for days
- Travel distance: Long-range, up to thousands of kilometres
- Source: Can be carried from distant regions
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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
How to help
Send “thenational” to the following numbers or call the hotline on: 0502955999
2289 – Dh10
2252 – Dh 50
6025 – Dh20
6027 – Dh 100
6026 – Dh 200
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Xpanceo
Started: 2018
Founders: Roman Axelrod, Valentyn Volkov
Based: Dubai, UAE
Industry: Smart contact lenses, augmented/virtual reality
Funding: $40 million
Investor: Opportunity Venture (Asia)
Defence review at a glance
• Increase defence spending to 2.5% of GDP by 2027 but given “turbulent times it may be necessary to go faster”
• Prioritise a shift towards working with AI and autonomous systems
• Invest in the resilience of military space systems.
• Number of active reserves should be increased by 20%
• More F-35 fighter jets required in the next decade
• New “hybrid Navy” with AUKUS submarines and autonomous vessels
