SIPRI: The UAE among the top 10 global arms buyers

In its annual report, the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), a Swedish think thank, slammed the increased arms exports to ‘repressive and irresponsible regimes’ such as the UAE.

Arms exports to the Middle East increased by 87 per cent between 2009–13 and 2014–18, according to new data on arms transfers published today.

“The US should take the lead in promoting responsible behaviour, rather than encouraging trade to repressive and irresponsible regimes, such as those in Saudi Arabia and the UAE,” the report said.

SIPRI ranks the UAE as one of the top 10 global arms buyers.

In 2014-18, the UAE received missile defence systems, short-range ballistic missiles and about 1,700 armoured personnel carriers from the US, as well as three Corvette warships from France.

"Weapons from the USA, the United Kingdom and France are in high demand in the Gulf region, where conflicts and tensions are rife," said Pieter D. Wezeman, Senior Researcher with the SIPRI Arms and Military Expenditure Programme.

Click here to read full report: https://www.sipri.org/media/press-release/2019/global-arms-trade-usa-increases-dominance-arms-flows-middle-east-surge-says-sipri