Through Serbia: How Is the UAE Supplying ‘Israel’ with Weapons to Kill Palestinians?

The revelation of a UAE-backed arms company in Serbia supplying “Israel” with weapons and ammunition underscores Abu Dhabi's role in the Israeli massacres in Gaza since October 7, 2023.

A report published by the Middle East Eye in early July 2024 investigated the decades-long close relationship between the UAE and a Serbian arms manufacturer, showing that millions of dollars worth of weapons have been sold to “Israel” during its aggression on Gaza. The report was not the first to investigate Abu Dhabi's support of Israeli aggression with Serbian weapons.

Numerous previous reports pointed to the UAE investing in Serbian arms companies and weapons to be supplied for the UAE’s mercenaries in various countries worldwide to achieve its interests. However, the new report, by the Middle East Eye, revealed the sale of these weapons to the Israeli Occupation for its war on Gaza.  

A previous report by Al-Estiklal underscored Serbia and India's involvement in Gaza's devastation by supplying weapons to “Israel.” What may not be apparent to the reader is that these weapons are funded and manufactured through Emirati investments, facilitated with Abu Dhabi's awareness.

Drenched in Blood 

“Yugoimport SDPR” is Serbia's principal state-owned arms manufacturing company, inheriting its legacy from the former Yugoslav federation which dissolved into several states, and was established in 1949.

It is one of the largest companies in the global defense industry, involved in importing and exporting defense equipment and related services.

The UAE began its covert cooperation with this Serbian company in 2012, with Emirati investments kept secret from the public due to a “clause” in an agreement signed between the two governments in March 2013.

This was revealed by economic advisor Pavlovic to Middle East Eye on August 15, 2014, confirming that the agreement included giving Emirati investments in Serbian arms priority over local deals and that details remain confidential.

As part of these UAE investments in Yugoimport, Serbia exported large quantities of weapons to “Israel” in March 2024, according to Balkan Insight on April 13, 2024.

However, a joint investigation by Haaretz and the Balkan Investigative Reporting Network (BIRN) on June 10, 2024, revealed a massive increase in Serbian weapons sold to “Israel” since Operation al-Aqsa Flood.

The investigative report tracked around eight Israeli military flights from Serbia to transport weapons to the Israeli Occupation state, estimating Serbian arms exports to “Israel” at 15.7 million euros since the aggression on Gaza.

This unusual flow of Serbian weapons manufactured with Emirati funds and investments to “Israel,” used to kill Palestinians, unveiled the extent of UAE involvement in Gaza's genocide secretly and through secret arms deals, despite the UAE’s official stance opposing Israeli aggression.

‘A Business Secret’

According to Balkan Insight report, on March 12, 2024, the UAE-invested Serbian state-owned arms company Yugoimport exported $17.1 million worth of weapons to “Israel” in 2024.

The report revealed that Serbia's Ministry for Trade denied BIRN’s Freedom of Information Act request about arms export to “Israel” from the period of October 2023 until February 26, 2024, calling the data “strictly confidential”.

“In regards with the asked information, we inform you that [it] carries markings of a certain degree of secrecy, in accordance with the Law on Data Secrecy,” the ministry responded.

“The aforementioned decision stipulates that the secret data of the ministry is ‘data of interest to the Republic of Serbia, i.e., data of interest for the work and performance of work under the jurisdiction of the ministry established by law’,” it added.

“That secret data means ‘information, documents, their reproductions, i.e. copies and materials containing classified information, regardless of the form or medium on which they are recorded or stored, as well as systems, devices, projects, plans, objects, assets, structures and businesses related to classified data.”

The ministry said delivering such data would also involve disclosing data considered a “business secret.”

Despite Israeli aggression and genocide in Gaza, the UAE has not severed communications with the Israeli Occupation state, and the Israeli ambassador remains in Abu Dhabi.

Four sources familiar with UAE government policy told Reuters on November 11, 2023, that the UAE intends to maintain relations with “Israel” despite widespread Arab and global public outrage.

Through Minister of State for International Cooperation Reem al-Hashimy, the UAE blamed the October 7 resistance operation for Gaza's annihilation during a UN Security Council session discussing Israeli aggression and the Palestinian issue.

She described the Palestinian resistance operation (Operation al-Aqsa Flood) as barbaric and heinous.

The most recent of these controversial UAE stances came when Nadim Koteich, General Manager of Sky News Arabia, sparked a wave of condemnation by suggesting that Arabs must choose between Gaza and Abu Dhabi, which caused surprise and resentment among Palestinians and Arabs.

In his show "Tonight with Nadim" on July 2, 2024, Nadim drew a comparison between the turmoil in Gaza and Palestine on one hand and the “prosperity" of the UAE and Saudi Arabia on the other.

He told the audience to choose between "famine" or "investments in artificial intelligence," claiming that the UAE and Saudi models are “more suitable for peace and success.”

The Weapon Story 

A report by Tactics Institute for Security and Counter-Terrorism on March 18, 2020, revealed that the ties between the UAE and Serbia, which deepened remarkably, began in 2013.

It explained that one of the UAE's motivations for turning to Serbia was that the country enjoys some freedom to revive its strong defense industry.

The report noted that over less than a decade, Serbia established a strategic alliance with the UAE, which provided the Serbian weapons production sector with the capital needed to modernize and open new markets throughout the Middle East.

The first announced deal in 2013 was a relatively modest arms export deal for armored personnel carriers and a joint development program for a guided ground-to-ground missile, which later evolved into aircraft manufacturing.

However, the details of the Serbian-UAE government deals were shrouded in secrecy from the beginning due to a "clause" in an agreement between the two governments that stipulated keeping the details of arms deals confidential. 

It explained that the secrecy suits both countries, especially as there are similarities in the way the two states conduct their business.

By 2015, the relationship had become closer, with Emiratis receiving training at the Serbian military academy, exchanging information, and enhancing protocols for cooperation in communications technology and cyber defense.

The UAE navy also tested anti-ship cruise missiles developed with their Serbian partners.

In 2018, reports indicated a significant surge in Serbian arms exports, with the UAE becoming a steadily expanding market.

UAE Motivations

According to the Tactics Institute for Security and Counter-Terrorism report, the UAE uses Serbian weapons as currency to fund warlords playing various roles to increase its power and global reach, with Serbian arms becoming a central part of this strategy.

A report by Middle East Eye (MEE) revealed that the UAE has moved to invest in arms manufacturing in Serbia, a country that participated in the massacres of Bosnian Muslims in 1995.

It pointed out that the Abu Dhabi regime is involved in investing billions of dollars in the arms trade in Serbia, not just for financial gain but also for political purposes related to distributing weapons to its allies in proxy wars for the benefit of America and “Israel” in the Middle East.

MEE stated that UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed, who is often accused of acting as an agent for the United States and “Israel” in Eastern Europe, exploits the Serbian arms market to distribute weapons to his allies in the Middle East.

This is in reference to the UAE’s support for regimes and movements hostile to Islamic powers, in exchange for support from America and “Israel.”

The website revealed, with photos, that behind these massive investments lies a mysterious figure, Mohammed Dahlan, who operates at the center of the network of relations between the UAE, Israeli, and American intelligence.

Dahlan assists in managing Emirati investments in Serbia, which line the pockets of corrupt political leaders. It confirmed that Emirati investments are shrouded in secrecy, their objectives unannounced, and sources in Serbia stated that it is never about financial profits.

The same MEE report said the other reasons for the UAE's investments in Serbia remain secret, even though Serbian sources have revealed that these investments aim for more than just potential financial gains through arms sales.

In assessing the scale of these investments, the report highlighted the signing of a $200 million agreement between the Serbian arms company and the UAE’s Advanced Technology Research Council at the International Defense Exhibition in Abu Dhabi in 2013.

A source in Serbia indicated that the deal involves investment in the Serbian ALAS missile system, a multi-purpose anti-armor system with an effective range of up to 60 kilometers.

Prior to this, a research study had revealed that the UAE exploited its growing relationship with Serbia to arm militias affiliated with Abu Dhabi in various conflict zones as part of its schemes to gain influence and expand.

The study, published by Eurasia Review journal on February 26, 2024, stated that the UAE purchased large quantities of Serbian weapons to distribute to its mercenaries in Yemen, with some also directed to Syria.

On February 13, 2024, Military Africa confirmed that the UAE supplied the Rapid Support Forces militia in Sudan with armed drones produced by the Serbian company Yugoimport.

It explained that the provision of armed drones by the UAE to the Rapid Support Forces gives them a significant technological advantage and superiority over the official Sudanese army.