Groundbreaking Pact: UAE Secures 80 Rafale F4 Jets in Historic Deal
In the attendance of the President of the French Republic, Emmanuel Macron, and Sheikh Mohammed ben Zayed Al Nahyane, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Vice-Commander of the Armed Forces of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Eric Trappier, Chairman and CEO of Dassault Aviation, has finalized a significant agreement with Tareq Abdul Raheem Al Hosani, CEO …
During the formal gathering with the President of France, Emmanuel Macron, and Sheikh Mohammed ben Zayed Al Nahyane, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Vice-Commander of the Emirates Armed Forces, Eric Trappier, the Chairman and CEO of Dassault Aviation, executed a historic accord with Tareq Abdul Raheem Al Hosani, the CEO of Tawazun Economic Council—responsible for security and defense procurements—for the purchase of 80 Rafale F4 jets for the United Arab Emirates Air Force & Air Defence (UAE AF & AD).
The Rafale F4, for which the Emirates Air Force will be the inaugural operator outside France, will equip the Emirates military with a platform capable of ensuring sovereignty and operational autonomy. This agreement is the culmination of a comprehensive effort by Dassault Aviation in collaboration with the Emirates Air Force and is supported by over 45 years of trust and partnership between the United Arab Emirates and our organization, established through the Mirage fighter aircraft family, most notably the Mirage 2000-9, whose modernization commenced two years ago.
Eric Trappier, Chairman and CEO of Dassault Aviation, proclaimed:
“The procurement of 80 Rafale jets by the UAE Federation is a remarkable achievement for France: I feel immensely proud and delighted. I extend my gratitude to the Emirates authorities for their renewed trust in our aircraft. Following the Mirage 5 and Mirage 2000, this Rafale agreement reinforces the strategic bond linking our two nations and the satisfaction of the Emirates Air Force, a long-term and discerning partner of our firm. I would like to emphasize the quality and effectiveness of the collaboration between the French government and industry, which played a crucial role in this success as Team France.”
This agreement is exceptional news for France and its aerospace industry, benefiting the entire ecosystem of 400 companies, ranging from large enterprises to small businesses, contributing to the Rafale project: it secures thousands of jobs within our field for the upcoming decade. This deal, the largest ever achieved by the French military aviation sector, strengthens a national industrial foundation that is undeniably unique in Europe, encompassing major corporations and SMEs, centered around a company that has been the primary contractor for all generations of military and civil aircraft for the last 70 years. The success of the Rafale with our armed forces and its sale to the UAE Federation, together with its export to five other nations already in collaboration, clearly demonstrates that French combat aviation is a globally recognized center of excellence within the national industrial landscape.
