UAE and South Korea Partner to Establish Defence Hub in Abu Dhabi

May 5, 2026

63 min

May 5, 2026 13:31

UAE signs deal to build global defence manufacturing hub in Abu Dhabi

## Strategic Partnership for Defence Manufacturing

The United Arab Emirates has entered into a strategic partnership with South Korea's LIG Defence and Aerospace (LIG D&A) to develop a global defence manufacturing hub in Abu Dhabi. This collaboration was formalized through a memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed by Tawazun Council for Defence Enablement and LIG D&A.

## Focus on Local Development

The agreement aims to establish a locally incorporated entity, enhancing the UAE's industrial capabilities in defence and security. The initiative is part of the "Make it in the Emirates 2026" event, emphasizing research, development, manufacturing, and supply chain integration.

## Strengthening National Capabilities

The partnership is expected to attract global companies to the UAE, fostering industrial integration and strengthening national defence capabilities. Shareef Hashim Al Hashmi of Tawazun highlighted the importance of this collaboration in reinforcing the UAE's position in the global defence sector.

## Recent Defence Agreements

The UAE has been actively expanding its defence partnerships, including a recent $1 billion deal with Embraer for military transport aircraft and significant contracts at UMEX & SimTEX for unmanned systems. In 2025, Tawazun secured $4.9 billion in deals at the Dubai Airshow, and a joint venture with EDGE Group and Leonardo is underway to develop advanced defence systems.

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