Senior delegations from the United Arab Emirates and the United States met in Abu Dhabi on September 25–26 for the ninth U.S.-UAE Joint Military Dialogue, a recurring forum the two governments use to steer their defense cooperation and assess regional security priorities.
The UAE side was led by Assistant Under Secretary for Policy & Defense Communication Ali Al Ahmed. The U.S. delegation was led by Daniel Zimmerman, the Assistant Secretary of War for International Security Affairs, according to the announcement.
Officials said the talks covered integrated air and missile defense, ongoing military cooperation, foreign military sales, and development of emerging capabilities. The agenda also included next steps for recently unveiled initiatives linking the U.S. Defense Innovation Unit with the UAE’s Tawazun Council and pairing the UAE with the Texas National Guard under the State Partnership Program.
Both countries said they remain committed to a durable, mutually beneficial defense relationship. Framing the partnership as a long-term alignment, they outlined plans to expand cooperation across multiple domains, from force interoperability to joint capability development. The two sides also signaled they expect to formalize a Special Operations Forces Statement of Intent in the near future.
The dialogue underscores how Washington and Abu Dhabi are attempting to synchronize policy and procurement amid a shifting security landscape in the Gulf. Integrated air and missile defense has been a persistent priority for the UAE and its neighbors given threats from drones and missiles in the region, while the innovation tie-up aims to speed the fielding of new technologies by linking U.S. rapid acquisition channels with Emirati industry.
The meeting’s readout cast the UAE as one of two countries designated by Washington as a Major Defense Partner, a status the sides said would inform deeper collaboration. They described the Joint Military Dialogue as their central venue for advancing shared security objectives and pledged to continue investing in the relationship on the basis of mutual respect and common interests.
The U.S. maintains a military presence in the UAE and has long viewed the country as a key security partner, while the UAE has sought closer integration with U.S. forces and defense technology to deter threats and modernize its military. This week’s session, the ninth in the series, served as a checkpoint on that agenda, with both sides emphasizing closer military-to-military ties and new frameworks to guide special operations cooperation and technology development.
