Zelensky’s Gulf Tour: Exporting Drone Know-How, Importing Alliances | ISPI
AI Analysis
Ukraine is leveraging its expertise in countering Iranian and Russian drones to form defense alliances with Gulf States. Zelensky's tour resulted in a 10-year air defense agreement with Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE, focusing on joint production of interception drones and anti-drone technology.
Key Takeaways
- Ukraine is exporting its drone interception expertise to Gulf States.
- A 10-year air defense agreement was signed with Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE.
- Ukrainian companies have established 10 factories for producing interception drones.
- 1,000 interceptor drones are priced at up to 3.5 million USD.
- Defense cooperation aims to enhance security of critical infrastructure in the Middle East.
Why It Matters
This development strengthens Ukraine's geopolitical ties with key Gulf States, potentially altering regional power dynamics. It also enhances the Gulf States' capabilities to counter drone threats, while providing Ukraine with additional resources and support against Russian aggression.
Zelensky’s Gulf Tour: Exporting Drone Know-How, Importing Alliances | ISPI
https://www.ispionline.it/en/publication/zelenskys-gulf-tour-exporting-drone-know-how-importing-alliances-234266
Commentary Middle East and North Africa· Russia, Caucasus and Central Asia
Ukraine is coming to the aid of the oil-rich and wealthy Arab Gulf States. On 30 March, during his tour of the Middle East, Volodymyr Zelenskyy effectively sold Ukraine’s ability to intercept Iranian and Russian-modified Iranian drones, which have tormented the Middle East’s energy sector for more than a month of war. The magnitude of Iranian strikes on energy and civilian infrastructure prompted the Gulf Arab states to reach out to Ukraine for expertise and know-how on countering Iranian and Russian drones cheaply. At least 11 requests came from the countries targeted by Iran, from both government and private enterprises, which desire to learn quickly about cheap and effective solutions to detect and intercept drones. Teams of Ukrainian military specialists were deployed to the Middle East to train and equip the beneficiary countries. Two advantages of Ukrainian drone specialists make them stand out. First, they have real combat experience countering Iranian drones. Second, their relatively cheap drone interceptors have proven effective against Russian copies of Iranian drones. Throughout the end of March, Ukraine signed a 10-year air defence agreement with Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.
According to Zelensky, Ukrainian companies have already set up 10 “shadow” factories worldwide specialised in the production of interception drones. 1,000 interceptor drones can cost up to 3,5 million USD. Defence cooperation with the three Arab Gulf states could enable scaling up the joint production of drones and anti-drone jamming technology, thereby investing in the security of critical infrastructure in Iran’s target countries in the Middle East. The same drone production can be equally supplied to Ukraine for as long as Russian aggression continues and beyond that.
Ukraine’s drone-based war experience
As the war in Ukraine enters its fifth year, Russia’s failure to make territorial gains seems to have encouraged it to inflict high costs on Ukrainian critical energy infrastructure. Consistent strikes with missiles and drones on Ukrainian energy infrastructure have put on display Russia’s “winterisation” tactics, designed to make the civilian population suffer. The ability to ration energy consumption helped Ukrainians allocate the available energy resources for the economy, population, and army. According to Ukraine’s energy company DTEK, at the beginning of 2026, almost 70% of the country’s power generation was destroyed by Russian strikes. Not counting the Russia-annexed territories, Ukraine, in its entirety, was exposed to up to 12 hours of daily energy