The Evolution of the Armed Forces of the United Arab Emirates

How have the United Arab Emirates Armed Forces evolved since the country’s founding? What are their current capabilities and how do they compare to their regional neighbors? Who are the Emirati leaders who have contributed to this development? And what does the evolution of the UAE Armed Forces mean for regional stability and U.S. involvement in the region?

In his latest book, Athol Yates, assistant professor in the Department of Humanities and Social Sciences at Khalifa University in Abu Dhabi, UAE, traces the little-known and fascinating history of the country’s armed forces. The book provides detail on the constituent forces that evolved into the UAE Armed Forces in 1976 and how the unified force has grown since then. It provides background on the country as well as the enduring roles of the military and the history of each military service, details on the political and command structure governing the military, and its manpower and materiel characteristics.

Yates was joined by Kenneth M. Pollack, resident scholar at the American Enterprise Institute and author of a recent paper on UAE military effectiveness, and Emma Soubrier, visiting scholar at AGSIW. Hussein Ibish, senior resident scholar at AGSIW, moderated the discussion.

Click here to purchase the book. Use the discount code AGSI35 for 35% off, valid until February 28.

The views represented herein are the author's or speaker's own and do not necessarily reflect the views of AGSI, its staff, or its board of directors.