The United Arab Emirates

United Arab Emirates

The United Arab Emirates, abbreviated as the UAE, or shortened to "the Emirates", is a state situated in the southeast of the Arabian Peninsula in Western Asia on the Persian Gulf, bordering Oman, and Saudi Arabia, and sharing sea borders with Iraq, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, and Iran.The UAE is a...

 Navy is small force of about 2,500 personnel. It maintains 12 well-equipped coastal patrol boat

Patrol boat

A patrol boat is a relatively small naval vessel generally designed for coastal defense duties.There have been many designs for patrol boats. They may be operated by a nation's navy, coast guard, or police force, and may be intended for marine and/or estuarine or river environments...

s and eight missile boat

Missile boat

A Missile Boat is a small craft armed with anti-ship missiles. Being a small craft, missile boats are popular with nations interested in forming an inexpensive navy...

s.
Although primarily concerned with coastal defense, the Navy is constructing a six-unit class of blue water

Blue-water navy

The term blue-water navy is a colloquialism used to describe a maritime force capable of operating across the deep waters of open oceans. While what actually constitutes such a force remains undefined, there is a requirement for the ability to exercise sea control at wide ranges...

 corvette

Corvette

A corvette is a small, maneuverable, lightly armed warship, originally smaller than a frigate and larger than a coastal patrol craft or fast attack craft , although many recent designs resemble frigates in size and role...

s in conjunction with French shipbuilder CMN.
The UAE maintains a small battalion-sized marine force called the UAE Marines equipped with BMP-3

BMP-3

The BMP-3 is a Russian amphibious infantry fighting vehicle, successor to the BMP-1 and BMP-2. BMP stands for Boyevaya Mashina Pekhoty .- Production history :...

 armoured personnel carriers.

Swedish shipbuilder Swede Ship Marine have built four 24 m Amphibious Troop Transport Vessel and one 25 m Fast Supply Vessel for the U.A.E Navy (delivered between 2003 and 2005). Three additional vessels are being built by Swede Ship Marine for the U.A.E Navy (see Future Navy).

Present naval strength

• 2 MGB 62 corvettes - 630 tons full load - 8 MM-40 SSM, 1X8 Crotale SAM - commissioned 1990-1 - SA 316 Helo
• 6 TNC 45 fast attack craft - 260 tons full load - 4 MM-40 SSM - commissioned 1980-1
• 2 Mubarraz class fast attack craft
  Mubarraz class fast attack craft
  The Mubarraz class is a class of fast attack craft that was built for the United Arab Emirates Navy in the late 1980s and commissioned in 1990. As of 2009 both vessels remain in service....
  
   - 260 tons full load - 4 MM-40 SSM - commissioned 1990
• 6 Ardhana class patrol craft
  Ardhana class patrol craft
  The Ardhana class is a class of patrol boat that was built for the United Arab Emirates Navy in the early 1970s and commissioned in 1975. As of 2009 all six vessels remain in service, though it has been announced that they will be decommissioned and replaced by the planned Baynunah class...
  
   - 175 tons full load - commissioned 1975-6
• 20 patrol boats fast 4 tons
• 2 Type-332 Frankenthal class minehunter MHC
• 7 LCT landing craft tank
  Landing craft tank
  The Landing Craft, Tank was an amphibious assault ship for landing tanks on beachheads. They were initially developed by the British Royal Navy and later by the United States Navy during World War II in a series of versions. Initially known as the "Tank Landing Craft" by the British, they later...
  
  
• 5 LCU Landing Craft Utility
  Landing Craft Utility
  The Landing Craft Utility is a type of boat used by amphibious forces to transport equipment and troops to the shore. They are capable of transporting tracked or wheeled vehicles and troops from amphibious assault ships to beachheads or piers....
  
  
• 16 LCP
• 4 other ships

Future Navy

In January 2004, Abu Dhabi Shipbuilding were awarded a contract to build a new class of multipurpose missile corvette

Corvette

A corvette is a small, maneuverable, lightly armed warship, originally smaller than a frigate and larger than a coastal patrol craft or fast attack craft , although many recent designs resemble frigates in size and role...

, the Baynunah class. The contract is for six corvettes. One has been completed, but is undergoing sea trial

Sea trial

A sea trial is the testing phase of a watercraft . It is also referred to as a "shakedown cruise" by many naval personnel. It is usually the last phase of construction and takes place on open water, and can last from a few hours to many days.Sea trials are conducted to measure a vessel’s...

s. The Baynunah class will replace the six Ardhana class large patrol boats

Ardhana class patrol craft

The Ardhana class is a class of patrol boat that was built for the United Arab Emirates Navy in the early 1970s and commissioned in 1975. As of 2009 all six vessels remain in service, though it has been announced that they will be decommissioned and replaced by the planned Baynunah class...

. The Kortenear class frigates where decommissioned in 2006 and are being rebuilt to yachts.

In 2009, it was announced that a 1,650 ton corvette, the Abu-Dhabi class, will be built. One is under contract, with an option for a second.

One 26 m Offshore Patrol Vessel, one 24 m Amphibious Troop Transport Vessel and one 24 m Patrol Vessel is under construction for the U.A.E Navy.