ABU DHABI // The UAE is near the top of a list of the world's biggest weapons importers and is set to continue increasing its hi-tech defensive capabilities, according to a new report on international arms transfers.
Analysts say the purchase of the weapons systems sends a message that the country is capable of protecting its territorial integrity while confirming that its posture is defensive.
The report, by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (Sipri), which for 44 years has tracked armaments and military spending, ranked the UAE in fourth place worldwide in total arms between 2005 to 2009, with spending of US$6.5 billion (Dh23.9bn). Only China, India and South Korea spent more.
The UAE was ahead of Israel, in sixth place. The nearest Arab country was Egypt, in 15th place, with $2.5 billion in imports.
The United States is by far the biggest supplier of arms to the UAE, the third-largest US weapons client.
The UAE is also France's biggest arms export destination. The majority of the UAE's spending is on aircraft from the US and France, followed by missiles and air defence systems.
From 2005 to 2009, the UAE received deliveries of 34 Mirage 2000 combat aircraft from France and 72 F-16 fighters from the US.
The UAE is poised to strengthen its position as a top importer with the delivery of Patriot-3 surface to air missile systems as well as transport aircraft and other missile-defence systems from the US, France and Russia.
However, the report shows a decline in UAE military imports for four consecutive years.
"The important issue to stress is the fact that UAE has significantly increased its military arsenal in both technical quality and quantity," said Pieter Wezeman, a senior researcher at Sipri's arms transfers programme and an author of the report.
"The decline in the imports since 2006 cannot be seen as an indication that the UAE is toning down its efforts to build up advanced armed forces with a considerable reach."
While the UAE had been absorbing the advanced weaponry it had already bought, such as by training military personnel and deployment, it was negotiating "new major arms procurement projects", said Mr Wezeman.
The weapons systems purchased by the UAE were primarily defensive, but the country was capable of long-range precision strikes, which acted as a deterrent to regional rivals, he said.
A report by Sipri last April showed that the UAE was the world's third-biggest importer of arms, from 2004 to 2008, accounting for six per cent of all purchases.
Paul Burke, a security and intelligence expert based in Abu Dhabi, said the country "sends a message - we have a capability in place that makes it difficult to invade and take control of any islands".
Another reason for the build-up was to supplement the UAE's role in international operations.
"The UAE is one of the most active GCC countries in terms of participation in international operations," said Justin Crump, an security expert based in London.
"For example, troops and planes are currently deployed in Afghanistan, and the Emirates' Special Forces have won plaudits for their role in tackling foreign fighters there. This is why transport planes are an essential purchase."
US military support for the GCC was intended mainly as a way to contain Iran, Mr Wezeman said. "The question here is to what extent Iran, which has not bought so many advanced conventional weapons in the past 10 years, is at a disadvantage," he said.
Despite Iran's public condemnation of US arms sales to GCC countries, Mr Burke believed that the Iranian government had bigger concerns. They included its nuclear programme and hostile borders with Afghanistan and Iraq.
"I don't think Iran will see GCC arms purchases as a threat. No matter what they say in public, the Iranian government privately knows that the GCC countries would not attack them," he said.
kshaheen@thenational.ae
In an article headlined "Arms purchases 'send a message'" (March 21, on page A6) we stated that the UAE was ranked fourth place worldwide in arms imports in 2009. In fact, the UAE was ranked fourth place worldwide in total arms imports between 2005 and 2009.
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SPD: "Border closures and blanket rejections at internal borders contradict the spirit of a common area of freedom"
Ms Yang's top tips for parents new to the UAE
- Join parent networks
- Look beyond school fees
- Keep an open mind
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A foster couple or family must:
- be Muslim, Emirati and be residing in the UAE
- not be younger than 25 years old
- not have been convicted of offences or crimes involving moral turpitude
- be free of infectious diseases or psychological and mental disorders
- have the ability to support its members and the foster child financially
- undertake to treat and raise the child in a proper manner and take care of his or her health and well-being
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What is blockchain?
Blockchain is a form of distributed ledger technology, a digital system in which data is recorded across multiple places at the same time. Unlike traditional databases, DLTs have no central administrator or centralised data storage. They are transparent because the data is visible and, because they are automatically replicated and impossible to be tampered with, they are secure.
The main difference between blockchain and other forms of DLT is the way data is stored as ‘blocks’ – new transactions are added to the existing ‘chain’ of past transactions, hence the name ‘blockchain’. It is impossible to delete or modify information on the chain due to the replication of blocks across various locations.
Blockchain is mostly associated with cryptocurrency Bitcoin. Due to the inability to tamper with transactions, advocates say this makes the currency more secure and safer than traditional systems. It is maintained by a network of people referred to as ‘miners’, who receive rewards for solving complex mathematical equations that enable transactions to go through.
However, one of the major problems that has come to light has been the presence of illicit material buried in the Bitcoin blockchain, linking it to the dark web.
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Get inspired
Here are a couple of Valentine’s Day food products that may or may not go the distance (but have got the internet talking anyway).
Sourdough sentiments: Marks & Spencer in the United Kingdom has introduced a slow-baked sourdough loaf dusted with flour to spell out I (heart) you, at £2 (Dh9.5). While it’s not available in the UAE, there’s nothing to stop you taking the idea and creating your own message of love, stencilled on breakfast-inbed toast.
Crisps playing cupid: Crisp company Tyrells has added a spicy addition to its range for Valentine’s Day. The brand describes the new honey and chilli flavour on Twitter as: “A tenderly bracing duo of the tantalising tingle of chilli with sweet and sticky honey. A helping hand to get your heart racing.” Again, not on sale here, but if you’re tempted you could certainly fashion your own flavour mix (spicy Cheetos and caramel popcorn, anyone?).
