UAE AMONG TOP FIVE ARMS IMPORTERS WORLDWIDE, SAYS REPORT

By Muin Abdul Majid

DUBAI, March 17 (Bernama) -- The United Arab Emirates (UAE) was the fourth
largest arms importer in the world for the period 2005-2009, behind China, India
and South Korea, with Greece in fifth position, according to a report.

The latest Arms Transfers Database published by the Stockholm International
Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) showed that Middle Eastern states accounted for
17 per cent of international transfers of major conventional weapons during that
period.

Over the past five years, 33 per cent of all major arms transfers to the
Middle East went to the UAE, 20 per cent to Israel and 13 per cent to Egypt.

"The UAE looks set to remain a major arms importer in the coming years,"
according to SIPRI.

It said the Gulf nation had placed orders for, among others, four Patriot-3
surface-to-air missile systems from the United States (US), three A-330 MRTT
tanker/transport aircraft from France and up to 50 96K9 Pantsyr-S1 air defence
systems from Russia.


The SIPRI research said the UAE took delivery of 34 Mirage-2000 combat
aircraft from France and 72 F-16s from the USA during 2005-2009.

The data showed that arms imports by Iran, which is in a standoff with the
West over its nuclear programme, remained low in 2009.

The Islamic republic was the 29th largest recipient of major conventional
weapons worldwide for 2005-2009.

According to the SIPRI database, the five biggest arms suppliers for the
period 2005-2009 were the US, Russia, Germany, France and United Kingdom.

Established in 1966, SIPRI is an independent international institute
dedicated to research into conflict, armaments, arms control and disarmament.

SIPRI provides data, analysis and recommendations, based on open sources, to
policymakers, researchers, media and the interested public.

-- BERNAMA