Tawazun Council and global defence leader Thales have signed a landmark cooperation agreement to establish local production of advanced Ground Master series air surveillance radars in the UAE. This strategic initiative supports the nation’s vision to enhance local manufacturing and strengthen national defence capabilities.
Renowned worldwide for their reliability, superior performance, and rapid deployability, Ground Master radars are among the leading air surveillance and defence systems. The new production facility, set to be fully operational by 2027, will handle assembly, testing, and qualification of these advanced radars to serve both domestic needs and export markets.
This factory will be a strategic asset, boosting the UAE’s self-sufficiency in critical defence technologies while offering operational flexibility to meet diverse mission requirements. The partnership also emphasizes talent localisation, with Thales committed to training Emirati professionals and building specialised expertise in radar technologies through sustainable career development programs.
Additionally, the project aims to qualify domestic suppliers, reinforcing the national industrial base and promoting long-term self-reliance in defence manufacturing.
Matar Ali Al Romaithi, Sector Chief of Defence and Security Industry Affairs at Tawazun Council, highlighted the expansion of Thales’ Radar Centre of Excellence as a testament to the UAE’s robust defence industrial strategy and regional leadership in advanced technologies.
Abdelhafid Mordi, CEO of Thales UAE, expressed pride in advancing the UAE’s industrial defence ecosystem through this investment. He emphasized that the new facility—from integration to lifecycle support—will significantly reinforce the nation’s sovereignty over critical defence technologies and deepen local supply chains and talent expertise.
