Athol Yates

Today, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Armed Forces is recognised as the most proficient military set-up in the Arab world, recently engaged in operations in Afghanistan, Libya and Yemen, and in the fight against ISIS. This book examines a pivotal component in how the UAE built such effectiveness: Western military professionals embedded in the Emirati forces. Some of these expatriates have commanded major military formations, others served as high-ranking staff, piloted front-line aircraft, developed and delivered training, or advised senior Emirati officers. The first such individuals arrived in 1965, when they were engaged to establish the state’s initial professional military force. Expatriates have since served continuously to the present day. This volume traces their history through 14 case studies, covering the period between 1965 and 2023. It offers a comprehensive picture of the expatriates’ backgrounds, the rationale behind their recruitment, and how they have been utilized. This information provides the foundation for the book’s key research question: to what degree and how have such individuals helped to generate a sustained military advantage for the Emirati military? The implications arising from this study are important, particularly for the UAE as it contemplates the potential replacement or phasing out of Western expatriates. They are equally consequential for Western defence policy-makers seeking innovative ways to develop the capabilities of friendly advanced nations, and for the more than a thousand expatriates currently serving in the Gulf who aspire to increase their influence.

In January 1839, Captain S. B. Haines of the Indian Marine, the East India Company’s navy, occupied Aden, a magnificent natural harbour located at the junction of the Red Sea and the Indian Ocean. Britain recognised its strategic importance, and this began a period of rule which lasted until 29 of November 1967. When Britain left South Arabia in 1967 it marked the end of an era – it finalised the period of frontier-style soldiering. Over the 140 years of British control over Aden, and especially during the times this area was the British Protectorate of Aden, several local military services were established. As a consequence, all had a strong British flavour, as demonstrated by their doctrine, organisation, structure, ranks, uniforms, drill, equipment and other arrangements. Drawing upon interviews with veterans of the services involved, archival and museum research in Great Britain and the Gulf states, and support from several veteran’s associations, Military and Police Forces of the Gulf States, Volume 3, provides an organisational history of each service in pre-independence Aden, along with exclusive photographs, colour profiles and diagrams detailing the uniforms, badges, insignia and equipment of the various forces over the time period until Aden achieved independence in 1967.

While today the military of the United Arab Emirates is described admiringly as a 'little Sparta', just 60 years ago the only security forces in the Emirates were the armed retainers of the Ruling Sheikhs and a small British-led, locally-raised Arab force. Using a combination of investment in its nationals, engagement of expatriates and the purchase of cutting edge military hardware, the UAE Armed Forces has become the Arab region’s most capable military. In the last decade, it has also gained considered experience through its military operations which have been undertaken in Afghanistan, Libya, Iraq, Syria and Yemen. This book traces the little-known and fascinating history of the country’s Armed Forces. It provides unparalleled detail on the constituent forces that evolved into the UAE Armed Forces in 1976, and how the unified force has grown since then. It provides essential background information on the country, the enduring roles of the military and the history of each military service, plus details on the political and command structure governing the military, and its manpower and materiel characteristics. The book concludes with profiles of the military sheikhs who have and continue to be central to the development of this growing regional powerhouse.

This book provides an overview of the military forces, and their antecedents, of the Arabian Gulf States. Most were British Protected States, resulting in their armed forces being heavily influenced by the British military. The States are: Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, Oman and the United Arab Emirates and its constituent Emirates of (Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Ras Al Khaimah, Sharjah, Umm al Quwain, Ajman and Fujairah). Military forces include the Bahrain Levy Corps, Trucial Oman Levies, Trucial Oman Scouts, Union Defence Force, Federal Armed Force, Abu Dhabi Defence Force, Dubai Defence Force, Ras Al-Khaimah Mobile Force, Sharjah National Guard, Umm Al-Quwain National Guard and Sultan’s Armed Forces of Oman, plus selected paramilitary and police forces. This narrative includes historical information regarding the various states and enables the reader to understand easily how the various militaries have evolved. The military forces mainly evolved from Emiri (princely) and city guards into competent military organisations with some of the world most sophisticated military technology. British seconded and contract officers and men shaped these forces through establishing, leading, advising and training them. Maps of the areas concerned are provided, along with a glossary of terms and many ORBATs in diagrammatical form. Historical overviews and military history of the forces is provided along with regimental histories for Oman. Scores of photographs are included showing the uniforms and a selection of badges and insignia. The work has been written by Cliff Lord and Dr Athol Yates. Cliff has had published a number of books including a history of the Armed Forces of Aden and the Protectorate, which in some respects is a lead on to this history. Dr Athol Yates is Assistant Professor at Al Khalifa University in Abu Dhabi and specialises in military history and security. The authors have a wealth of photographs and information from interviews with veterans of many of the forces included, and help from the Trucial Oman Scouts Association, Sultan’s Armed Forces Association, and have had access to archival and museum research in Britain and the Gulf States.