Gulf States continue to forge defence industry partnerships, boosting autonomy and economic diversification

3rd March 2023 - 12:30 GMT | by Harry Lye in London

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US Marines train with Emirati soldiers. (Photo: US DoD)

Gulf states are shoring up their defence industrial bases and forging deeper partnerships with traditional Western primes.

Nowhere was this trend more apparent than at IDEX during the week of 20 February, where the Edge conglomerate and other Emirati firms inked deals to further localisation of design, development and production.

During the week, Edge signed agreements with Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri, L3Harris and BAE Systems.

Edge's MoU with BAE paves the way for the duo to explore 'potential collaboration and co-creation opportunities to enhance technologies and capabilities across the United Arab Emirates'.

The agreement will see both companies work together in cyber, maritime, air and defence to support the UAE's industrialisation goals and support its plans to become

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Author

Harry Lye

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Harry Lye was Senior Naval Reporter at Shephard Media.

Harry joined the company in 2021, …

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