Force Structures

As head and president of the federation of sheikdoms, the ruler of Abu Dhabi is the de facto commander in chief of the UAE armed forces. Since 1976, the various Emirati defense forces have been brought under a unified command and the armed forces of various emirates merged into the Union Defense Force. Dubai still maintains independent forces (some 15,000-strong), as do the other emirates to lesser degrees.

The Supreme Defense Council makes the decisions related to the military's...