What Happened
Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and UAE Drive Regional Defense Spending
The Middle East defense industry experienced a record year of activity in 2025, driven by significant deals and partnerships between regional powers. Turkey’s Steel Dome air defense system secured its first deal worth $1.9 billion, while Saudi Arabia could buy up to 200 CCA drones and 130 MQ-9Bs. Egypt conducted military drills with China, and the UAE’s Emirati consortium plans to launch a satellite constellation by late 2026. Nine regional firms made it to SIPRI’s Top 100 arms producers list in 2025, driven by a total of approximately $31 billion in revenue. This trend may indicate a shift towards increased regional cooperation and investment in defense technologies.