Western Military Expatriates in the Armed Forces of the UAE
History and Impact, 1965–2024
By (author) Athol Yates
Hardback (Published)
(July 2026)
ISBN: 9781804131527
6.14 x 9.21 inches
Price: $126.00
In stock
The book argues that Western military expatriates, who have supported the Emirati military forces over more than 50 years, have played a crucial yet bounded role in elevating the UAE’s military capabilities to the point today where it is recognised as the pre-eminent Arab military force.
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.
1. Introduction
2. Categories of expatriates, their characteristics and their history
3. Expatriate groups and their lifecycle
4. Expatriate employment governance and human resource management practices
5. Work roles
6. The VRIO assessment
7. Conclusions
Case studies
A. The ADDF Group: British Army Seconded Officers in Abu Dhabi’s Military, 1966–76
B. The Early Navy Group: British Contract Personnel in Abu Dhabi’s Naval Force, 1967–76
C. The UDF Group: British Personnel in the Union Defence Force, 1971–76
D. The 1990s Land Forces Group: British Army Seconded Personnel in UAE Land Forces, 1991–97
E. The 1990s Special Forces Group: British Personnel in UAE SOG, 1991–98
F. The Khawla Group: US Army Security Assistance Team at the Women’s Military Service, 1990–96
G. The F-18 Group: Former USMC pilots engaged to establish an F-18 Fighter Weapons School, 1992–97
H. The MCO Group: Military Contract Officer programme, 2003–16
I. The Australian Coast Guard Group: Australians in the Federal Coast Guard, 2004–13
J. The KP Group: Knowledge Point contracted personnel in UAE Land Forces, 2011–22
K. The MCTM-UAE Group: The Marine Corps Security
Assistance Mission in the UAE, 2011 onwards
The Honour Roll
Notes
Bibliography
Index
Athol Yates heads the Institute for International and Civil Security at Khalifa University, Abu Dhabi. His research focuses on the UAEs internal security and national security policy, military history, and defence industry. He is the author of books on the history of the UAE security forces, including Evolution of the Armed Forces of the United Arab Emirates and The Military and Police Forces of the Trucial States and United Arab Emirates 1951-1980.
- By (author) Athol Yates
A valuable and disciplined study.
— Ciprian Clipa
...useful for providing a detailed examination of security support and how it is used by receiving countries. As such, it will be of interest to those involved in security assistance programs.
— Lawrence E. Cline
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