West Asia Sees Significant Increase in Arms Imports Amid Escalating Regional Tensions

West Asian Arms Imports Surge Amid Rising Security Concerns

Key Findings:

• West Asia's share of global arms imports (excluding Israel and Iran) rose from 8% in 2007-2012 to 19.2% in 2013-2018, and further to 21.1% in 2019-2024.
• Aircraft remain the single largest category of weapons imports in West Asia, accounting for 51% of imports in 2019-2024.
• Missile systems have gained importance, with a share of 20% in 2019-2024, indicating increasing focus on precision-strike capabilities and air defence networks.

Regional Trends:

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• Gulf countries have implemented large procurement programmes for aircraft, leading to a rise in their share of imports from 41% in 2013-2018 to 51% in 2019-2024.
• Naval capabilities are becoming more prominent, with the share of ships in West Asia's arms imports increasing from 1.2% to 10% over the same period.
• Air-defence systems accounted for 2.6% of imports in 2019-2024, down from a peak of 13% in the previous period.

Country-Specific Trends:

• UAE has shifted its procurement profile, with missiles accounting for 46% of imports in 2019-2024, up from 19% in 2007-2012.
• Saudi Arabia continues to prioritize aircraft purchases, with aircraft accounting for 53% of imports in 2019-2024.

Supplier Dynamics:

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• The US remains the dominant supplier of arms to the Gulf region, with a share of 44% for the UAE, 74% for Saudi Arabia, 45% for Qatar, and 64% for Kuwait during 2019-2024.
• Russia, China, and Turkey maintain smaller but growing roles in certain markets, reflecting diversification in defence partnerships.
• Turkey's presence has expanded rapidly in some countries, with a share of 85% in Oman's imports in 2019-2024, up from 1.6% in 2013-2018.