UAE boosts ties with Israel to shore up anti-drone defenses

After bearing the brunt of Iran’s missile and drone salvos, the United Arab Emirates is sparing no expense in building up its drone defense network ahead of a feared next round of fighting.

The damage inflicted on the UAE by Iran’s cheap Shahed drones has served as a wake-up call for the small Arab nation, exposing a gap in its air defense network. During the lull in fighting, it has expedited efforts to plug this gap, building up physical barriers and strengthening ties with experts in counterdrone technology, primarily Israel.

The war has led to a breakthrough in relations between Israel and the UAE, with the true extent of their ties only coming out this week.

A burgeoning alliance

On Wednesday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office revealed that he had taken a secret trip to the UAE in the middle of combat operations against Iran. During the visit, Netanyahu personally met with