MALAYSIA and the United Arab Emirates have moved to strengthen and broaden their defence relationship, with both countries committing to deeper strategic cooperation following a two-day working visit to the UAE by Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin.
Khaled arrived at Dubai International Airport on Wednesday night and held preparatory engagements ahead of official meetings to ensure the programme progressed smoothly.
The visit culminated in a bilateral meeting with the UAE Minister of State for Defence Affairs, Mohamed Mubarak Fadhel Al Mazrouei, at the Ministry of Defence in Abu Dhabi.
“As part of this visit, a bilateral meeting is scheduled with the UAE Minister of State for Defence Affairs Mohamed Mubarak Fadhel Al Mazrouei at the Ministry of Defence in Abu Dhabi. The meeting provided an opportunity to reaffirm the importance of consistent defence cooperation, aligned with the strong bilateral economic ties between Malaysia and the UAE,” Khaled said.
According to the Malaysian defence minister, the UAE acknowledged the close relationship between the two countries and welcomed greater participation by Malaysian companies in collaborative ventures with EDGE Group, a UAE government-owned defence and technology conglomerate.
Khaled said he highlighted Malaysia’s strengths in semiconductor manufacturing and aerospace components, noting their potential role in supporting EDGE Group’s defence product supply chain in the future.
He added that Malaysia had also proposed training collaboration involving officers of the Royal Malaysian Navy, as well as cooperation linked to the signing of a defence cooperation memorandum of understanding between the two countries.
Khaled described the memorandum of understanding as a significant milestone in Malaysia-UAE defence ties, saying it expanded cooperation beyond traditional military engagement.
“The MoU marked a significant milestone in the strategic relationship between the two countries and expanded the scope of cooperation beyond military matters to include joint defence research, defence product development, industry engagement and human capital development initiatives,” he said.
He said the agreement would play a key role in accelerating industry involvement on both sides.
“The MoU will also serve as an important bridge to immediately engage industry, particularly in identifying areas of mutual focus and potential high-impact projects that can be commercialised.
“It opens a new chapter in Malaysia-UAE defence cooperation that is stronger, mutually reinforcing and anchored on regional and global peace and stability,” Khaled said.
During the visit, Khaled also paid a courtesy call on the Embassy of Malaysia in Abu Dhabi, where he thanked Malaysia’s ambassador, Tengku Datuk Sirajuzzaman Tengku Mohamed Ariffin, and the embassy staff for their support and hospitality.
“I expressed my appreciation for the commitment demonstrated in strengthening Malaysia-UAE relations, including in the defence aspect, which is of considerable importance to both countries,” he said.
He added that the embassy played a vital role in safeguarding the interests of Malaysians abroad while supporting defence diplomacy and national security priorities.
The minister was accompanied by Defence Ministry deputy secretary-general for policy Mohd Yani Daud, Armed Forces Headquarters chief of staff Lieutenant General Datuk Azhan Md Othman, and Defence Ministry Policy and Strategic Planning Division secretary Datuk Muhammad Ammir Haron.
“This visit reflects Malaysia’s commitment to deepening defence relations with the UAE and fostering closer strategic, industrial and training collaboration that will benefit both nations,” Khaled said. -December 15, 2025
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