Israeli forces moved the Iron Dome system to the United Arab Emirates this month, marking the first deployment of the short‑range missile shield in an Arab state. Soldiers from Israel’s army set up and ran the batteries, according to two officials who spoke on condition of anonymity. The move follows the 2020 Abraham Accords that normalized ties between the two nations.

During the U.S.–Israeli offensive that began on Feb. 28, Iran launched retaliatory strikes across the Gulf, with the Emirates absorbing the heaviest barrage. Its defense ministry reported engaging nearly 3,000 missiles and drones, many Shahed‑136 UAVs that slipped past existing air defenses. The onslaught damaged hotels, civilian infrastructure and a few military sites, prompting Abu Dhabi to quit OPEC later this week.

Defense firms in Israel stand to gain from a new export market, while Emirati investors may see heightened demand for advanced air‑defense platforms. The partnership signals a shift away from traditional Saudi‑led regional alignments, potentially reshaping procurement patterns across the Gulf. Analysts expect related contracts to add several hundred million dollars to Israel’s defense sales this year.