UAE enhances manufacturing through industrial excellence

Tawazun Council and Thales have signed a cooperation agreement to locally produce advanced Ground Master series air surveillance radars.

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This agreement supports the UAE's vision to boost local manufacturing and develop national defence capabilities.

The signing took place on the second day of the “Make it in the Emirates 2025,” with Matar Ali Al Romaithi, Sector Chief of Defence and Security Industry Affairs at Tawazun Council, and Abdelhafid Mordi, CEO of Thales in the UAE, in attendance alongside representatives from both sides.

This reflects Thales’ commitment to supporting the UAE's vision of advancing manufacturing capabilities through innovation and industrial excellence.

The Ground Master radars are internationally recognised for their reliability, superior performance, rapid deployability, and adaptability to diverse missions, positioning them amongst the world’s leading air surveillance and defence systems.

The facility is scheduled to be fully operational by 2027, where it will assemble, test, and qualify advanced air surveillance radars to meet both domestic and export markets’ needs.

The factory will serve as a strategic asset, bolstering the UAE’s defence manufacturing capabilities, enhancing self-sufficiency in critical technologies, and providing flexibility to address varying operational requirements.

A core pillar of Thales Radar Centre of Excellence’s expansion is the development of Emirati talent.