Abraham Accords Propel Israel-UAE Strategic Defense Ties - Faith & Freedom News

Israel-UAE Defense Cooperation Transforms Middle East Security Architecture

News Report | August 28, 2025

Israel and the United Arab Emirates are on the verge of concluding a landmark defense deal that would mark the first major military-industrial partnership between the two nations since normalizing relations through the Abraham Accords, potentially reshaping the Middle East security landscape and establishing a new model for regional defense cooperation.

The Hermes 900 Game Changer

Negotiations between Israeli defense giant Elbit Systems and UAE’s EDGE Group over the Hermes 900 unmanned aerial vehicle system represent more than just an arms deal—they exemplify how the Abraham Accords are ushering in a new era of defense-industrial cooperation that could transform both nations’ strategic capabilities.

The reported agreement goes far beyond a simple procurement contract, encompassing technology transfer and localized production capabilities that would allow the UAE to transition from defense importer to manufacturer—a critical component of the Emirates’ 2025-28 strategic plan to strengthen its domestic defense sector.

Hermes 900 Technical Capabilities

Payload Capacity: Up to 660 pounds
Flight Duration: Up to 30 hours airborne
Altitude Ceiling: 30,000 feet
Mission Types: Reconnaissance, surveillance, communications relay, electronic warfare

Since the Abraham Accords were signed on September 15, 2020, Israel and the UAE have rapidly expanded their cooperation beyond diplomatic and economic ties into the sensitive realm of defense and security, driven by shared regional threats and common strategic interests.

Evolution of Israel-UAE Defense Cooperation

November 2021

First publicly acknowledged military exercise between Abraham Accords signatories, conducted by U.S. Naval Forces Central Command in the Red Sea

September 2022

Elbit Systems Emirates awarded $53 million contract for Emirati air force defense systems; Israel approves UAE request for SPYDER mobile air-defense system

October 2022

Israeli-made Barak air-defense system deploys to the UAE

February 2023

First bilateral naval exercise announced; joint development of unmanned maritime vessel unveiled

April 2025

UAE sends Mirage 2000-9 fighter jets to join U.S.-Israeli multinational exercise in Greece, demonstrating continued cooperation despite Gaza conflict

12%

Abraham Accords signatories’ share of Israel’s $15B arms exports (2024)

$53M

Initial Elbit Systems contract value

30+

Hours of Hermes 900 flight endurance

The defense partnership extends beyond hardware procurement to include intelligence sharing through a joint platform nicknamed “Crystal Ball,” which focuses on cybersecurity threats, demonstrating the depth of strategic cooperation between the two nations.

The UAE’s interest in advanced drone technology intensified following a series of Iran-aligned militia missile attacks in 2022, highlighting the country’s urgent need to modernize and expand its defense capabilities against regional threats.

Regional Security Transformation

The growing defense ties between Israel and the UAE carry significant regional and global implications, potentially altering the Middle East security landscape. Gulf nations like Saudi Arabia and Qatar may view this partnership as a model for diversifying defense production with Washington-aligned partners, possibly including Israel.

For the United States, this potential deal serves as a proof of concept for a U.S.-aligned—not U.S.-dependent—security model, where multilateral air-defense coalitions share radar, intelligence, and early warning systems in the post-October 7 Middle East defense landscape.

The partnership reflects a broader regional recalibration in the wake of the Abraham Accords, wherein normalization has yielded not just diplomatic but now tangible security and defense-industrial dividends.

— Defense Analysis Report

However, increased Israel-UAE cooperation also carries risks, potentially heightening Iran’s threat perception and complicating the UAE’s “no enemies” regional approach. While the UAE and Bahrain have embraced normalization, other Gulf Cooperation Council members remain more cautious given both the Iran challenge and the ongoing Gaza conflict.

The defense cooperation could enable expedited fulfillment of UAE and other partner needs from an array of providers, accelerating regional defense integration and potentially drawing additional partners to widen the Middle East security framework.

Strategic Policy Recommendations

Export Control Alignment: Work with European allies to encourage Israel-UAE transparency and align export controls, information security, and military technology standards
Regional Integration: Ensure nascent deals are interoperable within the U.S.-led regional security architecture and encourage expanded partnerships
Escalation Management: Support expanded regional security dialogues and facilitate discussions on mechanisms to manage escalation risks
Industrial Base Cooperation: Explore localized partnering opportunities between regional actors and the U.S. defense industrial base

Beyond the region, countries like China and Russia may perceive growing Israel-UAE security cooperation as further consolidation of the U.S.-led regional security architecture designed to limit their influence, though they are unlikely to fundamentally alter their engagement approach as a result.

The Hermes 900 deal represents an important litmus test for post-Abraham Accords defense integration, demonstrating how normalization can expand beyond diplomatic-economic realms to encompass military-industrial collaboration. Success could reshape the bounds of possibility under normalization and establish new precedents for regional defense cooperation.

As negotiations finalize, both nations must address domestic concerns about cooperation while ensuring technology security and building long-term trust as defense suppliers. The United States can leverage this potential deal to encourage Israel’s transition from military campaigns toward diplomacy while affirming support for building regional defense capacity.