The UAE’s Links to North Korea and Abu Dhabi’s Nuclear Ambitions
In this context, North Korea is viewed as a critical potential supplier of nuclear material to the UAE. The UAE’s military links with Pyongyang date back to 1989, when Abu Dhabi purchased Scud-B missiles from North Korea. These missile purchases occurred in tandem with the UAE’s development of Mirage 2000 and F-16 aircraft systems, which could be used as nuclear weapons delivery systems. While China and Pakistan were initially regarded as the likely suppliers of nuclear material to the UAE should Abu Dhabi request it, the unwillingness of either Beijing or Islamabad to alienate Iran could make Pyongyang a preferable supplier of nuclear technology.
While a major nuclear material purchase from North Korea would be met with animosity from the United States, the UAE has conducted its military deals with North Korea through private companies to ensure that Abu Dhabi is not subject to U.S. sanctions. The UAE’s June 2015 arms deal with Pyongyang was conducted through an Emirati company called al-Mutlaq Technology, which acts as an intermediary for weapons transfers between states.
The close proximity between al-Mutlaq Technology and the International Gold Group (IGG), a leading UAE arms importer operated by the UAE Crown Prince’s close friend Fadhil Saif al-Kaabi, has fueled speculation of state complicity in the UAE’s North Korea deals. However, the ambiguity surrounding government knowledge of the UAE’s North Korea links and Abu Dhabi’s official criticisms of Pyongyang’s ballistic missile tests, have allowed the UAE to keep its commercial channels with North Korea under the radar. This ensures that the UAE has maintained the ability to purchase North Korean weaponry and nuclear material on short notice, with little scrutiny from the United States.
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