UAE IN TALKS WITH TRUMP ADMINISTRATION ON MILITARY ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE AND DRONE CAPABILITIES
1. SUMMARY
JAFAJ has learned that the United Arab Emirates is in active talks with the Trump administration to expand access to U.S. military artificial intelligence, with a primary focus on smart drone warfare. A trusted Israeli source confirms that both Israel and the U.S. view the UAE as a trusted partner against Iran and are open to sharing AI military technology. The UAE seeks AI to defend against Iranian kamikaze drones and to conduct precision strikes. The Trump administration is supportive, with the Department of War and DIA reviewing ways to enhance UAE resilience. This military track builds on the broader U.S.-UAE AI Acceleration Partnership signed in May 2025, which gave the UAE major access to U.S. AI chips and infrastructure in exchange for security alignment away from China.
2. OPENING – JAFAJ REPORTING
JAFAJ has learned that the government of the United Arab Emirates is in talks with the Trump administration to enhance its share of artificial intelligence technology, mainly when it comes to military use.
A trusted Israeli source with proximity to both Washington and Abu Dhabi who spoke to Jafaj on the condition of anonymity confirmed that both Israel and the United States see importance in supporting the United Arab Emirates ambition for the use of artificial intelligence in military.
3. PRIMARY MILITARY ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE FOCUS: SMART DRONES
The source explained that the most important use that the UAE is considering for applying artificial intelligence tools is the use of smart drones.
He adds that after the vicious attacks from Iran using its Iranian drones, the United Arab Emirates has become interested in applying those drones with artificial intelligence in the sense that artificial intelligence could do two things for the United Arab Emirates Air Force:
A. *Defense*: Confront attacking drones, mainly kamikaze ones like the Shahid drones used by Iran during the confrontation with the US and the United States.
B. *Offense*: Use artificial intelligence roles to execute very effective hits on targets, including a potential hit on Iran herself.
4. TRUST AND TECHNOLOGY SHARING
The source added that the recent confrontation between the United Arab Emirates and Iran has proven that Abu Dhabi is a trusted partner who is not afraid to face off against mutual enemies. Therefore Israel would not mind at all sharing technology with the United Arab Emirates.
Nonetheless he said: “it’s only common sense that we can’t share everything with everybody but there’s a lot we can share with Abu Dhabi.”
5. USG POSITION
Jafaj has also learned that the Trump administration feels very positive about sharing artificial intelligence military knowledge with the United Arab Emirates. Both the Department of War and the Defense Intelligence Agency are looking at ways of enhancing United Arab Emirates resilience to any future attacks by Iran, including the use of artificial intelligence.
6. CONCLUSION
The United Arab Emirates has proven itself a very valuable partner for both Israel and the United States. With kindness to securing not only the most state-of-the-art arms, but also the know-how and localization of the knowledge and use of that technology, and with the trust that the United States seems to be granting the United Arab Emirates, it’s very likely that the Emirati funds would secure the UAE as a powerhouse for artificial intelligence in general.