The United States approved $16.46 billion in military sales to the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait on March 19, 2026, following Iranian missile and drone attacks on Gulf states. These strikes responded to a US-Israeli air campaign launched late last month, forcing the UAE and Kuwait to deplete resources in defense.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio invoked an emergency waiver under the Arms Export Control Act, bypassing congressional approval. The State Department cited an urgent need for the equipment to address national security interests.
The largest package, valued at $8 billion, includes lower-tier air and missile defense sensor radars for tracking high-speed targets and feeding data to missile networks. The UAE received a $4.5 billion long-range discrimination radar system to detect ballistic missile threats, plus $2.1 billion in counter-unmanned aircraft systems, $1.22 billion in advanced air-to-air missiles, and $644 million for F-16 munitions and upgrades.
Kuwait’s approvals encompass $8 billion in missile defense and radar systems. Separate notices added $6 billion in adjustments to prior packages and commercial sales to the UAE, Kuwait, and Jordan, including $70.5 million in aircraft and munitions support for Jordan, without requiring congressional notification.
This escalation reflects heightened regional tensions, with Gulf allies bolstering defenses against Iranian retaliation.