#Morocco #Mirage_2000 #UAE #United_Arab_Emirates
The delivery of 30 Mirage 2000-9 fighter jets promised by the United Arab Emirates to Morocco could face further delays due to rising geopolitical tensions, particularly linked to the war in Iran, as reported Friday by La Razón.
Originally planned as part of the strengthening ties between Rabat and Abu Dhabi since 2020, the transfer largely depends on the UAE receiving 80 Rafale F4 aircraft ordered from France in 2021. However, these deliveries—scheduled to begin in 2026 and continue through 2031—may themselves be delayed.
In this tense regional context, Emirati authorities are choosing to keep their current fleet fully operational for longer. As a precaution, they launched a maintenance program in 2025 to extend the lifespan of the Mirage jets ahead of their gradual retirement and potential transfer to Morocco, now expected around 2027.
The project had previously been blocked by Paris until 2024, before a thaw in Franco-Moroccan relations, highlighted by Emmanuel Macron recognizing Morocco’s sovereignty over the Sahara.
Despite these uncertainties, the spanish media concluded, military cooperation between Rabat and Abu Dhabi remains strong, supported by longstanding agreements and ongoing exchanges between leaders, including Mohammed VI and Mohammed bin Zayed.