Israel deployed advanced air defense systems to the United Arab Emirates during the recent war with Iran, according to multiple reports, marking a new stage in military ties between the two countries.
The Financial Times reported that Israel sent a version of its Iron Beam laser-based defense system to help protect the UAE from missile and drone attacks. It also said Israel provided a surveillance platform called Spectro, designed to detect drones from as far as 20 kilometers, or about 12 miles.
Axios had earlier reported that Israel also sent an Iron Dome battery to the UAE, along with several dozen troops to operate it. The Financial Times later said additional weapons systems were transferred as well, though it did not specify what they were.
“It’s not a small number of boots on the ground,” one source familiar with the matter told the newspaper.
The reports suggest some of the deepest public military cooperation yet between Israel and the UAE. Since signing the Abraham Accords in 2020, the two governments have built diplomatic, economic, and security ties. Much of that relationship has happened quietly. Joint exercises were known before, but an active wartime deployment is different.
The UAE came under heavy attack during the conflict. Between Feb. 28 and April 8, when a ceasefire took effect, Iran fired around 550 ballistic and cruise missiles and more than 2,200 drones at the country, according to the Emirati defense ministry. Officials said it was the most targeted country in the region during the fighting, including more than Israel in total attacks aimed there.
Most incoming projectiles were intercepted, but some reached military and civilian sites. Fires and damage were reported in places including Sharjah and Fujairah after strikes or falling debris.
That pressure appears to have pushed Abu Dhabi to seek help from allies.
The Financial Times also reported that Israel shared real-time intelligence with the UAE on missile launches from Iran. That would have given defenders extra warning time, even if only minutes. In fast attacks, that matters a lot.
Some of the systems reportedly sent were prototypes or were not fully integrated into Israel’s own defense network. Sources told the paper that was done because of the speed of the war and the urgent need to respond. One system was basically moved quickly.
Iron Beam is one of Israel’s newer air defense tools. It uses a high-powered laser to destroy smaller airborne threats such as drones, rockets, and mortars. The first operational system was delivered to the Israeli military in December 2025 after more than a decade of development. It had first been unveiled in 2014.
Inside Israel’s defense structure, Iron Beam is meant to work alongside Iron Dome, David’s Sling, and Arrow systems. The laser is intended for smaller threats, allowing missile interceptors to be saved for larger targets.
Because it relies on energy rather than traditional ammunition, the system can keep firing as long as power is available. Israeli officials have described it as a potential game-changer, though the full wartime record is still developing.
According to Axios, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu approved the deployment after a call with UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
Israeli and Emirati officials said during the conflict that the two countries were in close political and military coordination. Israel also carried out strikes in southern Iran aimed at short-range missile threats to Gulf states.
There has been no public indication that Bahrain, which also signed the Abraham Accords and was attacked during the fighting, received similar Israeli support.
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UAE = Blue
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