Country United Arab Emirates Garrison/HQ Abu Dhabi Founded 1971 | Role Ground warfare Part of Union Defence Force | |
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Colors Black and Desert Sand Camo Headquarters Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates |
As part of the military of the United Arab Emirates, the United Arab Emirates Army is responsible for land operations.
Contents
- UDF Deployments
- Sharjah Fujairah Border war
- First Gulf War
- Yemeni Civil War 2015
- Army Equipment
- Former Army Equipment
- References

UDF Deployments

The Union Defence Force were used on two occasions in Sharjah They exist to further the foreign and domestic policies of their governing body and to defend that body and the nation it represents from external and internal aggression, the terms "armed forces" and "military" are often treated synonymously, although in technical usage a distinction is sometimes made in which a country's armed forces may include both its military and other paramilitary forces. Armed force is the use of armed forces to achieve political objectives.

The study of the use of armed forces is called military science. Broadly speaking, this involves considering offense and defense at three "levels": strategy, operational art, and tactics. All three levels study the application of the use of force in order to achieve a desired objective.
Sharjah-Fujairah Border war

In February 1973 following a brief Border War between armed Bedouin tribesmen from both Sharjah Emirate and Fujairah Emirate over a disputed area of land which covered a quarter of an acre and included water wells and date palm trees. 22 people were killed and another 12 were wounded before UDF troops were able to impose a ceasefire.
First Gulf War

During the Gulf War, UAE troops, reportedly numbering several thousands, participated in the conflict as part of the GCC Peninsula Shield force that advanced into the city of Kuwait. United States aircraft bombed Iraqi positions from the UAE, and United States ships operated out of UAE ports along the coast of the Persian Gulf. The UAE Air Force also carried out strikes against Iraqi forces. A total of six UAE combat deaths were reported as a result of the fighting.
Yemeni Civil War (2015)

During the 2015 Yemeni Civil War the United Arab Emirates Army intervened in support of fighters loyal to the ousted regime of Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi against Houthi militants. UAE troops assisted anti-Houthi fighters in the re-taking of the strategic southern Yemeni port city of Aden and also Al Anad Air Base, the largest airbase in Yemen.
On 4 September 2015 the army suffered its heaviest loss in modern history, losing 52 soldiers in war in Yemen to a tactical ballistic missile strike. The UAE has since deployed an entire Armoured brigade to Yemen.
On June 2016 the UAE pulled its troops out of Yemen bringing an end to its ground campaign in the country. Until the end of its involvement the UAE forces suffered 82 killed.
Army Equipment
MBT
Reconnaissance
Tracked APCs
Wheeled APCs
Artillery
Anti-Aircraft Artillery
Personal Weapons
Finnish manufacturer Patria has announced the sale of their AMV 8×8 vehicle to the United Arab Emirates. The size of the order and delivery schedule have not been made public but some sources say 600 (400 with BMP-3 turrets).
June 2016, United Arab Emirates (UAE) has ordered 40 Patria AMV 8×8 armoured vehicles produced by Polish Rosomak S.A. company.