United Arab Emirates Army


As part of the military of the United Arab Emirates, the United Arab Emirates Army is responsible for land operations.

Operational history

The Union Defence Force were used on two occasions in Sharjah. They exist to further the foreign and domestic policies of their governing body and to defend that body and the nation it represents from external and internal aggression, the terms "armed forces" and "military" are often treated synonymously, although in technical usage a distinction is sometimes made in which a country's armed forces may include both its military and other paramilitary forces. Armed force is the use of armed forces to achieve political objectives.

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. The UAE has since deployed an entire armoured brigade to Yemen.
Up until November 2017 the UAE forces have suffered 120 dead.
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. 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.

Army equipment

Vehicles

Artillery and air defence

Infantry weapons

Decommissioned equipment