United Arab Emirates

The United Arab Emirates (دولة الإمارات العربية المتحدة) is a federation of small Arab states, including Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman, Umm al-Quwain, Ras al-Khaimah, and Fujairah. These small sheikhdoms were known collectively as the Trucial States until 1971, each of which maintained its own military forces. These forces were combined into the Union Defence Force (UDF) which is the Armed Forces of the United Arab Emirates and includes the Army, Air Force, Navy and Federal Police. Although all emirates contribute personnel and finances to support the UDF, three of these states also still maintain their own small regional military commands. These are the Abu Dhabi Defence Force, Dubai Defence Force, and Ras al-Khaimah Defence Force.

UAE Camouflage Patterns

The camouflage design seen here is woodland-style design, but is not derivative of the original US m81 woodland pattern. It has long been rumored that this design was developed in the USA for possible use as a desert camouflage pattern, but very little evidence exists to substantiate that claim. Sources have confirmed, however, that uniforms in this pattern were sold by an American manufacturer to one of the Emirates, most likely Abu Dhabi, during the mid-1980s, where they remained in service for only a few years before being replaced by the desert DPM pattern.

As with many Arab Gulf states, a four-color desert derivative of British DPM pattern was worn by Dubai and possibly the other Emirates until a standardized pattern was introduced for the entire Union Defence Force. The UAE versions tend to incorporate colors that do not contrast that well with each other, achieving a somewhat blended appearance at a distance. These patterns were used no later than the early 1990s.

At least one variation of the British Tropical DPM pattern has been worn by UAE Forces in the early 1990s. There is little evidence to suggest the pattern remained in service for very long.

A branch of the UAE Federal Police called the Special Security Forces wear an "urban" DPM pattern camouflage uniform with blue-purple colorway, very similar to the pattern worn by Qatar. This was introduced in the early 1990s and continues to be worn into the present era.

At some point in the 1990s, the UDF standardized to a copy of the US six-color "chocolate chip" desert pattern camouflage.

A five-color version of the "chocolate chip" pattern also exists, and was worn by some members of the UAE Army. As the colors are quite different from the US copy, it is unknown whether these patterns were issued at the same time, concurrently, or possibly to different units.

A grey variation of the six-color desert pattern was worn by the UAE Marines during this time period, being essentially the same as that issued by the Saudi Marines.

In the late 1990s, the UDF began issuing a copy of US tricolor desert pattern as the standard combat uniform. This remained in service until the mid-2000s when it was replaced by the digital pattern currently worn.

The current pixelated camouflage pattern of the Union Defence Force is modeled after the US MARPAT design, and similar to the digital pattern worn by Kuwait.

Other Camouflage Patterns worn by the UAE

Some units of the UDF have worn the French Daguet tricolor desert pattern, both ex-French surplus and locally-tailored copies. It is likely these uniforms were only worn when deployed on missions abroad, such as with the United Nations.

UDF units deployed to Europe (KFOR) wore surplus French CE woodland pattern camouflage uniforms.

Elements of the UAE Special Operations Command have been documented wearing Multicam.

United Arab Emirates