UAE’s Sophisticated Air Defense More Diverse Than Ever After Iran War

BusinessAerospace & DefenseUAE’s Sophisticated Air Defense More Diverse Than Ever After Iran WarByPaul Iddon,Senior Contributor.Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights. Paul Iddon is a freelance journalist focused on Middle East affairs.Follow AuthorApr 27, 2026, 08:30am EDT--:-- / --:--This voice experience is generated by AI. Learn more.This voice experience is generated by AI. Learn more.Explosions from the interception of an Iranian projectile are seen in the sky over Dubai on March 1, 2026. (Photo by Giuseppe CACACE / AFP via Getty Images)AFP via Getty ImagesThe revelation that Israel deployed an Iron Dome system along with troops to the United Arab Emirates during the Iran war is the latest indication that Abu Dhabi has emerged from this war with a more diversified air defense than ever. That outcome is significant, considering the country had already built one of the most multilayered and sophisticated air defenses worldwide, sourced from multiple countries. In a truly unprecedented move, Israel discreetly sent one of its well-known Iron Dome systems to the Arab Gulf state early in the Iran war, Axios reported on Sunday. The outlet noted that this marked the first time that the Israeli system, designed for intercepting short-range rockets like those fired from Hamas in the Gaza Strip, was deployed and used outside of Israel and the United States.Throughout the war—from February 28 until the April 8 ceasefire—Iran launched daily missile and drone attacks against the Emirates, totaling 537 ballistic missiles, 2,256 drones, and 26 cruise missiles. The majority of these were intercepted, although some made it through the country’s advanced defenses. Shrapnel from intercepted projectiles also caused some damage. According to Axios, the Israeli Iron Dome intercepted dozens of incoming Iranian missiles over the UAE. The deployment most likely does not indicate a direct transfer of the Iron Dome to the Emirati military, which isn’t kn...