Israel pitched advanced drones to UAE, leaked emails reveal: Report
Israel pitched advanced drones to UAE, leaked emails reveal: Report Submitted by MEE staff on Mon, 08/03/2026 - 19:26 The UAE escalated its request for Israeli drones following a Houthi missile and drone attack in 2022 The Elbit Systems UK stand is pictured on the opening day of the Farnborough International Airshow 2026 in Farnborough, south-west of London, on 20 July 2026 (Toby Shepheard/AFP)…
Leaked emails reveal that the UAE secretly approached Israel in 2022 to purchase advanced drones from Elbit Systems after a Houthi missile and drone attack on Abu Dhabi in January of the same year. The emails, obtained by Handala, an online hacking group with suspected ties to Iran, were verified by Haaretz and Drop Site News. The initial sale was valued at $154 million, with additional upgrades bringing the total cost up to $225 million.
The drones discussed, the Hermes 900, are advanced Israeli reconnaissance and surveillance drones capable of carrying up to 990 pounds and eight surface-to-air missiles. The UAE and Israel established a fund for joint defence acquisition in March 2022, shortly after the UAE normalized relations with Israel under the Abraham Accords.
The emails also mention other Israeli armaments, including the SkyEye wide-area surveillance sensors and the Hermes 650 drone.
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