Ukraine Deepens Gulf Security Ties with New Defence Pacts in UAE and Qatar

 

The Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, meets President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, in Doha, Qatar.

Ukraine has expanded its defence partnerships in the Gulf, securing new agreements with both the United Arab Emirates and Qatar as President Volodymyr Zelenskiy toured the region amid rising regional tensions. These deals focus on countering missile and drone threats and reflect Kyiv’s effort to leverage its battlefield expertise to build long‑term security ties. 

During a rapid diplomatic tour of the Gulf, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy secured new defence cooperation agreements with both the United Arab Emirates and Qatar. The accords come as regional tensions escalate due to ongoing Iranian missile and drone activity, prompting Gulf states to seek partners with advanced air‑defence capabilities.

In Qatar, officials announced a defence cooperation agreement that includes collaboration on countering missile threats and unmanned aerial systems. Ukraine, which has gained extensive experience intercepting Russian drones and missiles, aims to share its expertise while strengthening its own international security network. 

Zelenskiy also met with UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, where the two countries agreed to expand cooperation in security and defence. According to Zelenskiy, teams from both sides will now work to finalize the technical details of the partnership. 

These agreements follow similar defence arrangements recently signed with Saudi Arabia, forming a broader Gulf outreach strategy. Kyiv hopes these long‑term partnerships—some spanning 10 years—will support joint production, technological collaboration, and enhanced air‑defence capabilities across the region.