Secret documents reveal growing UAE-Israeli military coordination following Mecca pact
LONDON, Aug. 13 (YPA) – Leaked correspondence has revealed growing military and technological cooperation between the UAE and Israeli occupation, amid a rapid reshaping of security alliances in the Middle East, particularly in the wake of the signing of the Mecca Defense Pact between Saudi Arabia, Türkiye and Pakistan.
In this context, the international intelligence platform Dark Box said discussions between Abu Dhabi and Israeli occupation defense companies had expanded beyond conventional arms purchases to include advanced drones, surveillance systems, intelligence and reconnaissance capabilities, control infrastructure, training and logistical support, as well as mechanisms for joint defense procurement.
Against this backdrop, the investigation linked the growing contacts to recent shifts in the Gulf security environment, noting that Abu Dhabi appears increasingly interested in deepening its military ties with Israeli occupation as defense cooperation between Riyadh, Ankara and Islamabad continues to expand.
Meanwhile, the leaked correspondence revealed discussions with Israeli company Elbit Systems over the supply of advanced military systems to the UAE, including Hermes 900 drones and Sky Eye surveillance systems, as well as ground-control systems, training and logistical support.
According to the correspondence, the initial proposal was valued at around $154 million, before additions and upgrades raised the potential value of the deal to approximately $225 million.
Beyond these systems, the documents also showed the UAE considering other capabilities, including SkyStriker loitering munitions and Hermes 650 drones. This, according to the investigation, reflects broader Emirati interest in Israel’s unmanned systems rather than a single platform.
More significantly, the discussions involve capabilities that go beyond the acquisition of drones to defend UAE airspace. They also point to efforts to develop intelligence and reconnaissance capabilities capable of detecting threats before they reach Emirati territory.
Politically, the Abraham Accords, which established open normalization between the UAE and Israel, provided a framework for expanding security and military contacts between the two sides. Over time, the relationship has evolved from political normalization into cooperation in military technology, surveillance, drones, intelligence and defense procurement.
For Israeli occupation, meanwhile, the partnership provides access to a major Gulf market and facilitates the transfer of its defense-industry products to an Arab state with substantial financial resources and growing regional influence.
The rapprochement also comes at a particularly sensitive time, following the Saudi-Turkish-Pakistani joint defense agreement, under which an armed attack against any one of the three countries is considered an attack against all of them.
Taken together, these developments suggest that cooperation between Abu Dhabi and “Tel Aviv” is evolving into a long-term security partnership, with Abu Dhabi seeking to build an integrated defense and intelligence system in cooperation with the occupation as the broader alliance landscape in the Middle East continues to be reshaped.