Morocco and UAE Deepen Military Cooperation in High-Level Rabat Talks

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A high-level meeting in Rabat has highlighted the depth of military ties between Morocco and the United Arab Emirates, with senior defense officials reviewing a partnership that has expanded across training, military capabilities and defense industry cooperation.

General Mohammed Berrid, Inspector General of the Royal Moroccan Armed Forces (FAR) and Commander of the Southern Zone, received General Issa Saif Bin Ablan Al Mazrouei, Chief of Staff of the UAE Armed Forces, on Tuesday in the Moroccan capital.

The meeting took place alongside the third session of the Moroccan-Emirati Joint Military Commission, held on October 5 and 6, 2026. The Emirati delegation is also participating in the Marrakech Air Show 2026, scheduled from October 7 to 10.

A partnership extending beyond military exercises

The discussions reflected the broadening scope of defense cooperation between the two countries. The two military officials highlighted progress in several areas, including capability development, defense manufacturing, military training and the exchange of technical expertise.

The closing session of the joint military commission was subsequently co-chaired by the two generals. According to the Moroccan Armed Forces' General Staff, the meeting produced a positive assessment of cooperation programs covering a wide range of strategic activities.

The commission provides a structured framework for coordinating military priorities and strengthening institutional links between the armed forces of Morocco and the UAE.

Defense industry gains greater importance

Defense industrial cooperation has emerged as one of the notable dimensions of the Moroccan-Emirati relationship. The inclusion of defense-industry development alongside training and operational capabilities reflects the increasingly diversified nature of bilateral military ties.

The two countries have progressively sought to deepen their military expertise and improve their respective capabilities through exchanges and joint initiatives, creating a partnership that extends beyond traditional defense coordination.

The Marrakech Air Show 2026 also provides an international setting for discussions on aerospace and defense technologies, bringing together military delegations and industry representatives.

Four decades of institutional cooperation

Morocco and the UAE's military relationship dates back to 1980, when the two countries concluded their first military cooperation agreement. The partnership gained a further institutional foundation with the signing of a framework agreement in May 2006.

More than four decades after the initial agreement, the relationship has evolved into a multidimensional defense partnership encompassing training, expertise, capability development and defense-industry cooperation.

The latest commission meeting in Rabat therefore represents another step in consolidating a longstanding strategic relationship between the two armed forces.

Morocco has also repeatedly expressed solidarity with the UAE in the face of Iranian attacks, including through statements by King Mohammed VI. This political dimension has reinforced the broader strategic convergence between Rabat and Abu Dhabi.