Neither the UAE nor Israel has confirmed the plan.
By Hezy Laing
Several regional news outlets have recently published claims that the United Arab Emirates is planning to host an Israeli military base near its border with Saudi Arabia.
The stories describe a proposed facility in the Arada (or “Arada/ʿArādah”) region of the UAE, allegedly intended to house more than 800 Israeli soldiers, but no official acknowledgment has been issued by either government.
According to the articles circulating in regional media, the UAE is “planning to build a military base for Israeli forces” in the Arada area, close to the Saudi border.
These reports state that the base would be designed to accommodate over 800 Israeli soldiers, and frame the move as part of expanding UAE–Israel security cooperation following the 2020 Abraham Accords.
The reports also describe the project as including modern infrastructure such as housing, training facilities, and operational support centers.
Some outlets characterize the alleged base as a strategic move that would increase Israel’s military footprint in the Gulf.
The claims originate from outlets such as Afghan Voice Agency, DemState, and regional Arabic‑language sites, none of which cite official UAE or Israeli statements.
These reports appear to rely on unnamed “news sources” or secondary regional media rather than verifiable government or military disclosures.
No major Israeli, Emirati, or Western news organizations have independently confirmed the existence of such a project.
The UAE and Israel have expanded security, intelligence, and economic cooperation since normalizing relations in 2020.
Joint defense projects, technology sharing, and intelligence coordination have been publicly acknowledged.
However, the establishment of a permanent Israeli military base on Emirati soil—especially near the Saudi border—would represent a major strategic shift and would likely provoke strong regional reactions, making the absence of official confirmation notable.
The reports about an Israeli military base in the UAE near the Saudi border remain unverified and originate from non‑official, secondary media sources.
Neither the UAE nor Israel has confirmed such a plan, and no independent evidence has surfaced beyond the claims in these regional outlets.
