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UAE Defense Sector Opportunities

In 1992, the UAE created the Tawazun Economic Council (Tawazun, https://www.tawazun.ae) to form and implement the Tawazun Economic Program (TEP) and Policy Guidelines. The TEP seeks to promote further economic diversification in the UAE by: 

  • Building critical national defense sectors and generating high value exports
  • Creating a knowledge-based economy and diversifying the UAE economy
  • Creating business and employment opportunities for UAE citizens. 

The UAE introduced offsets in 2015 and updated its policies in 2019; the update broadens the scope of projects eligible for offset credits.  Although the policy continues to focus on the development of the defense and security industry, the new guidelines emphasize projects in strategic industries including: 

  • Aerospace
  • Infrastructure and transportation
  • Communication technology
  • Education technology
  • Sustainability
  • Environment and climate change, and 
  • Food and water security. 

The revised 2019 policy guidelines also changed the project process. The offset project duration and milestones for investment and contractual engagement project categories are, by default, set at seven (7) years commencing from the effective date, unless otherwise agreed.  For the capability development project category, the project duration is, by default, set at three (3) years commencing from the effective date, unless otherwise agreed.  

Challenges facing U.S. companies in delivering offset projects: 

  1. Required Licenses for Knowledge Transfer - in some cases, U.S. regulations do not allow companies to export technologies which Emiratis are interested in obtaining. 
  2. Ownership of Intellectual Property Rights – When working with a local partner, there may be issues concerning whether the UAE or U.S. partner owns the IP.  
  3. Disagreement on the Value of Offset Proposed Projects - There could be a difference between the U.S. company’s evaluation of the project and Tawazun’s evaluation of project. 
  4. Competition with Other Countries’ Offset Programs – Many other countries have their own offset requirements.  Over the past year, officials from the UAE and Saudi Arabia announced that a certain level of cooperation and coordination in defense manufacturing would allow foreign companies to gain offset credits for joint projects established in one of the two countries.  
  5. Emiratization - One of the main objectives of the offset program is to create high-paid, high-tech, jobs for Emirati nationals.  However, U.S. companies face difficulties finding enough qualified Emiratis.  

While the offset program can be challenging, U.S. companies that study the requirements and get good advice from local experts can take advantage of great opportunities in the UAE market.


U.S. companies who would like to learn more about these opportunities or about the UAE offsets program can contact George Messiha at the U.S. Commercial Service Abu Dhabi at office.abudhabi@trade.gov . Additionally, U.S. companies interested in this sector should consider attending the International Defense Exhibition and Conference (February 21-25, 2021) in Abu Dhabi.  Firms interested in aerospace defense opportunities can also consider the Dubai Airshow (November 14-18, 2021), and for U.S. companies interested in drones, robotics, or unmanned systems, UMEX 2022 (February 20-22, 2022) 

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