UAE Receives First Batch Of French Rafale Fighter Jets In 'Historic Deal' Worth Dh63.5 Billion
The Ministry of Defence (MOD) received the jets — which are among the most advanced in the world — from French company Dassault Aviation.
This historic Rafale deal, worth 16.6 billion euros (about Dh63.5 billion), is one of the most prominent defence deals in the history of UAE-French relations. It includes the production of 80 fighter jets equipped with the latest defence technologies.
The acquisition of this type of aircraft comes as part of a comprehensive plan to modernise the UAE's defence capabilities, in line with security changes and challenges at the regional and international levels, the MOD said.
The aircraft were received during an official ceremony in Paris, attended by Mohammed bin Mubarak Al Mazrouei, Minister of State for Defence Affairs, along with other top Emirati and French officials.
'Our armed forces, thanks to the unlimited support of President Sheikh Mohamed, have achieved a qualitative leap in terms of equipment and modernisation, making them among the most efficient and prepared forces in the region and the world,' Al Mazrouei said.
The strategy of the armed forces focuses on the careful acquisition of advanced weapons and equipment, aligned with the evolving dynamics of future conflicts and technological advancements, he added.
The Rafale aircraft have proven their efficiency in many military operations around the world, said Maj-Gen Rashid Mohammed Al Shamsi, commander of the Air Force.
The UAE's acquisition of these jets supports the building of advanced and integrated armed forces and enhances the state's plans to develop the capabilities of its air force and air defence systems.
The Rafale aircraft are characterised by technologies that enable the implementation of multiple missions such as reconnaissance and attacking land and sea targets with high accuracy, making them a qualitative addition to the UAE Air Force, said Maj-Gen Al Shamsi.
The agreement included an integrated training programme to qualify pilots and technicians.
Al Shamsi said this historic deal came as a result of a careful study of global defence markets and intensive negotiations to obtain the best types of aircraft and air defence systems.
The UAE Armed Forces will continue their efforts to develop their defence systems and provide them with the latest military technologies, he added.
in line with current and future security challenges, pointing out the ministry's commitment to searching for new technologies and products that double the striking power of the Air Force, in a way that serves national interests and enhances the UAE's position as a leading defence force.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Tribune
4 hours ago
- Daily Tribune
Macron urges 'pressure' on Russia until 'solid peace' in Ukraine
French President Emmanuel Macron on Saturday said support for Kyiv and pressure on Russia needed to continue until "a solid and durable peace" had been achieved in Ukraine. Following a meeting of US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, Macron on X called for "unbreakable" security guarantees for any future peace deal, and cautioned against what he said was Russia's "well-documented tendency to not keep its own commitments".
Daily Tribune
5 hours ago
- Daily Tribune
European leaders back Putin-Trump-Zelensky meeting
AFP | European leaders on Saturday expressed support for a three-way summit between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, Russia's Vladimir Putin and US leader Donald Trump, after a US-Russia summit failed to produce a ceasefire. A statement, signed by French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen, insisted on maintaining pressure on Russia until peace was achieved, including through sanctions. Friday's Trump-Putin meeting in Alaska ended without the US president extracting concrete commitments from Putin to halt Russia's invasion of Ukraine launched in February 2022. "We will continue to strengthen sanctions and wider economic measures to put pressure on Russia's war economy until there is a just and lasting peace," said the statement. The European leaders also insisted Moscow "cannot have a veto" on Ukraine joining the European Union or NATO. Russia has made clear it will not tolerate Kyiv's membership of the defence alliance. But the leaders said they were "ready to work ... towards a trilateral summit with European support". European leaders had been uneasy over Trump's diplomatic outreach to Putin, arguing that Zelensky should have been involved in the Alaska summit. In a separate statement, Starmer praised Trump's efforts as bringing "us closer than ever before to ending Russia's illegal war in Ukraine". But Macron, writing on X, cautioned against what he said was Russia's "well-documented tendency to not keep its own commitments". He called for any future peace deal to have "unbreakable" security guarantees. He also argued for increased pressure on Russia until "a solid and durable peace" had been achieved. The European leader welcomed what they called "security guarantees" made by Trump without giving details. A diplomatic source told AFP that Trump had offered Ukraine guarantees similar to NATO membership, but without it joining the alliance.
Gulf Insider
a day ago
- Gulf Insider
Germany's Industrial Core Is Collapsing Under The US Trade Deal And The Green Agenda
The asymmetrical trade agreement between the EU and the US will further worsen Germany's recession. Yet neither politicians nor corporate leaders show any willingness to make the sweeping policy changes needed to reverse course. Germany's economic data leaves no room for illusions. After contracting by 0.9% in 2023 and another 0.5% last year, the decline will continue this year. The Machine Room Has Been Blown Apart It is precisely the sectors that have sustained German prosperity for decades—automobiles, construction, machinery—that are under the heaviest pressure. Without the artificial boost from state spending—now accounting for half of GDP—the private sector is set to shrink by 4–5% this year. Since 2018, total productivity has been in steady decline. This is also a social problem: Germany is importing hundreds of thousands of welfare migrants into its social systems, yet the economy would have to boom just to keep per capita prosperity from falling. A new survey by the German Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DIHK) confirms what was already obvious: the EU–US trade deal will especially hurt Germany's export-oriented economy. According to the survey, 58% of companies expect additional burdens, rising to 74% for firms with direct US business. Only 5% expect any benefit. 'This deal may have been politically necessary, but for many German companies it's a bitter pill,' said DIHK CEO Helena Melnikov. 'Higher tariffs, more bureaucracy, falling competitiveness'—that's the price of the diplomatic truce between Washington and Brussels. As of Thursday, a general 15% tariff applies to exports to the US, hitting automotive and machinery manufacturers hardest. 89% of US-oriented firms report immediate disadvantages, 72% fear further tariff hikes, 80% worry about political arbitrariness in transatlantic trade, and more than half plan to scale back US operations. Business Was Already Weak In its May survey of over 21,000 companies, only 23% reported positive business expectations—down five points—while 30% expected deterioration. In industry, one in three anticipates fewer orders. Just 19% plan to increase investment, while about a third plan to cut back. High energy prices, labor shortages, and political uncertainty are seen as the main drags. The DIHK forecasts a 0.3% recession for 2025, but adjusting for state spending, the real decline is closer to 4–5%. Daily surveys confirm the same message: Germany is being deindustrialized, losing hundreds of thousands of core-sector jobs. The social security deficits already emerging are just the beginning. Yet both politics and business refuse to conduct an honest diagnosis. The Green Deal remains sacrosanct. Energy costs for German industry are up to three times higher than for US competitors, double that of French firms—pushing energy-intensive sectors out of the country. Dancing Around the Golden Calf Nobody dares openly challenge Brussels' climate agenda. A rare exception came in June, when a group of works council representatives wrote an open letter to the Chancellor, naming the Green Deal as a root cause of decline. But most CEOs dodge the question. Mercedes-Benz chief Ola Källenius cites 'weak demand, high production costs, and US tariff uncertainty' for falling margins—but ignores the Green Deal's role. VW CEO Oliver Blume calls for lower energy prices and tax incentives for EVs—essentially more subsidies to keep the transition alive. Corporate leadership is now fused ideologically with the Green Deal. The energy transition has battered Germany's industrial base: sectors like construction and automotive have been knocked completely off track. A Split Economy Events like the 'Made for Germany' coffee chat between 61 CEOs and the Chancellor are symbolic of a corporatist mindset. Large corporations can adjust or relocate production to sidestep regulation, but small and medium-sized enterprises—the Mittelstand—are being crushed. The Green Deal's bureaucratic weight ultimately clears the field for big corporations by eliminating smaller competitors. The Mittelstand has no political backing, and many are fighting daily for survival—often ending in bankruptcy. In H1 2025, insolvencies rose 9.4% year-on-year to 11,900 companies. There is still no sign of a policy shift on climate. The German corporate elite has failed to seize the initiative to force political change. Germany is heading for a hot autumn—economically and socially. Source Zero Hedge
