Saudi Arabia, UAE ramp up efforts to secure self-sufficiency in drone technology

Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates are rapidly advancing their own drone aviation programs in a strive to transition away from acting as mere buyers to the role of producers.

Both countries are in the midst of entering agreements that go beyond drone deliveries to include the transfer of technology, licensing, and localized production, as reported by Forbes magazine.

The UAE is in talks with Israel’s Elbit Systems for the purchase of its Hermes 900 reconnaissance drones. These aircraft can stay airborne for up to 30 hours and reach altitudes of 9 km. A key element of the deal is a phased technology transfer and local assembly of the drones in the Emirates by the EDGE Group holding. This aligns with the UAE’s broader defense outlook, which it presented in the form of its Strategic Plan 2025-2028. Under this framework, the state aims to strengthen its defense network, with a significant focus on industrial localization and development of new industrial zones.

This deal is the latest in a long line of ventures between the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and the world’s leading drone manufacturers.

The Arabic Kingdom signed a record deal with the Turkish drone giant Baykar Defense within the framework of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s visit in July 2023. It entails the supply of heavy strike drones Akinci, which may also involve setting up production inside the kingdom.

The UAE has already purchased 20 Turkish Bayraktar TB2 drones, and negotiations continue for up to 120 more, along with the construction of a manufacturing plant. Saudi Arabia is pursuing a similar path under its “Vision 2030” reform program, seeking to bring high-tech weapons production home.

Experts that have been cited by Forbes believe that these moves signal a shift in the drone manufacturing center of gravity toward the Middle East, with regional powers aiming no longer to merely buy weapons but to build domestic production capacity and develop their export potential.

By Nazrin Sadigova