Edge Group: UAE's Fast-Growing Defence Conglomerate

Monocle visits Edge Group, Abu Dhabi's state-backed defence conglomerate, at its Tawazun Industrial Park base. Founded in November 2019 from over 20 Emirati companies, Edge has become one of the world's fastest-growing military-industrial groups. The visit occurs amid a regional conflict with Iran, which launched thousands of drones and missiles at the UAE after US-Israeli strikes in February. Edge's role includes manufacturing missiles, drones, and sensors, and it has shifted to wartime production with three-shift rotations. Export sales grew from $50m in 2019 to about $5bn in 2025, 70% from exports. Edge employs 19,000 people across 35 entities, including missiles, autonomous systems, cyber security, and naval systems. It secured a €1bn contract for corvettes to Angola and has deals with Leonardo, Safran, and Indra. Edge's X-Range testing site spans 350 sq km. CEO Hamad Al Marar says the war validated Edge's relevance. The UAE's interception rate remains above 95%. Edge's Mirsad systems, installed on the Burj Khalifa, track Iranian drones. Israel has supplied Iron Dome elements to the UAE.