UAE Ammunition Market Overview, 2030

As a key player in the Middle East’s security and military landscape, the UAE’s ammunition market benefits from both domestic production and global procurement. The scope of the ammunition market in the UAE is extensive, covering various sectors including military, law enforcement, sport shooting, and commercial security. The UAE’s strategic position in the Gulf region and its role in regional military alliances (e.g., with Saudi Arabia, the U.S., and NATO) are major drivers for ammunition procurement, especially for artillery, missile defense, and small arms. Ongoing conflicts in the region, such as in Yemen, have heightened the need for military readiness, fueling demand for various ammunition types. The UAE’s emphasis on internal security and counter-terrorism efforts has led to increased demand for small-caliber ammunition for use by police, security forces, and private firms providing asset protection. While the UAE is relatively stable, the surrounding geopolitical tensions in the Middle East could pose challenges to the long-term security of ammunition supply chains. There are significant opportunities for the UAE to expand its domestic ammunition production to reduce reliance on imports. Companies in the UAE are increasingly developing and producing small arms ammunition, artillery shells, and military-grade munitions. The UAE is one of the few countries in the region that has invested heavily in domestic defense manufacturing, including ammunition. The country is also home to various advanced military technology companies that focus on precision-guided munitions and ammunition for unmanned systems. The future of the UAE’s ammunition market looks promising, driven by ongoing military modernization, the growing emphasis on sustainability, and increased technological innovation. Smart ammunition that can adjust its trajectory mid-flight or provide real-time data for battlefield analysis is likely to dominate the future landscape.

According to the research report "UAE Ammunition Market Overview, 2030," published by Bonafide Research, the UAE Ammunition market is anticipated to grow at more than 4.89% CAGR from 2025 to 2030. Though the UAE is politically stable, the broader Middle East region faces occasional instability. Instability in neighboring countries can lead to shifts in defense strategies, necessitating changes in the types and amounts of ammunition required. The UAE’s participation in international arms control agreements could affect the type of ammunition available in the market. As a member of the United Nations, the UAE is bound by international treaties and trade restrictions that govern arms sales, which can limit its access to certain technologies or ammunition types. The UAE is increasingly investing in high-tech ammunition, including precision-guided munitions (PGMs) and smart ammunition. Technologies such as guided artillery shells, smart bombs, and laser-guided projectiles are becoming central to the UAE’s military modernization. Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) are also being integrated into combat systems, necessitating the development of specialized ammunition like anti-UAV projectiles. The environmental impact of traditional ammunition, particularly lead-based bullets and toxic propellants, has become a significant concern. The UAE is focusing on developing greener ammunition alternatives. These include lead-free bullets, non-toxic primers, and biodegradable ammunition that can minimize environmental contamination. Companies in the UAE are likely to focus on research and development to create ammunition that is both effective and environmentally responsible, aligning with global environmental standards and pressure from international organizations. The UAE’s defense sector has seen a consolidation trend, where larger defense entities such as EDIC acquire smaller firms to expand their capabilities in ammunition production and technology. These mergers aim to enhance the country’s self-sufficiency in defense manufacturing, reducing reliance on foreign ammunition imports. The UAE government is actively working to strengthen the defense sector through initiatives like Vision 2021, which aims to diversify the economy and develop the domestic defense industry.

Small-caliber ammunition, primarily bullets, is one of the most significant segments in the UAE’s ammunition market. These are used by the military, law enforcement, and security agencies for personal defense weapons such as handguns, assault rifles, and sniper rifles. The UAE’s military, particularly the armed forces and special units, requires a variety of calibers, including 5.56mm and 7.62mm rounds, for their small arms. The growing demand for personal protection and law enforcement operations further boosts the demand for these products, with hunting and sport shooting also contributing to the market. The UAE military, particularly its air force, uses a variety of aerial bombs for airstrikes and targeted attacks. These bombs range from guided bombs like the GBU-12 Paveway II to unguided bombs for precision strikes. The UAE’s significant investment in advanced air defense systems and fighter jets has driven the demand for aerial bombs, including laser-guided and satellite-guided munitions, which enhance accuracy and minimize collateral damage. Hand grenades and grenade launchers are used extensively by both military and law enforcement agencies. The UAE Armed Forces deploy grenades for crowd control and close-quarter combat operations, especially in urban warfare. The law enforcement sector also uses stun grenades, flashbangs, and smoke grenades for riot control and non-lethal force applications. There is also growing demand for less-lethal grenade variants, which are often used for dispersing crowds or immobilizing targets without causing permanent harm. The UAE’s military forces, particularly the artillery units, require a wide range of artillery shells to support ground operations. These include high-explosive shells, cluster shells, and guided artillery rounds for self-propelled artillery and howitzers.

The market is structured around three primary calibers that is large caliber, medium caliber, and small caliber. Ammunition above 40mm is typically used in artillery, mortars, and air defense systems. These include artillery shells, aerial bombs, and grenades. The UAE military relies on large-caliber rounds for its self-propelled artillery and howitzers, which provide crucial support in ground combat and counter-terrorism operations. Large-caliber ammunition is also important for heavy machine guns and anti-aircraft guns. The demand for such ammunition is tied to the UAE’s focus on modernizing its artillery systems and expanding its air defense capabilities, which require high-powered, long-range ammunition to ensure effective fire support. Medium caliber ammunition, which includes rounds like 12.7mm (used in heavy machine guns such as the M2 Browning) and 20mm to 40mm rounds (for automatic grenade launchers and anti-aircraft guns), is crucial for infantry units and military vehicles. This range of ammunition is used in machine guns, sniper rifles, automated weapons systems, and grenade launchers. The UAE’s military, especially its Special Forces and elite units, demands high-caliber rounds for rapid-response combat situations and vehicle-mounted weapons. The UAE uses medium-caliber ammunition for counter-terrorism and urban warfare tactics, where accuracy and power are essential for neutralizing targets. Small-caliber ammunition, up to 12.7mm, is widely used for personal defense weapons, including pistols, rifles, and submachine guns. The most common rounds in this category include 9mm (used in pistols and submachine guns) and 5.56mm and 7.62mm (used in assault rifles like the M16 and AK-47). This caliber is the most popular in the UAE military and policing sectors due to its versatility, cost-effectiveness, and ease of use in close-quarters combat.

The UAE military, including its army, navy, and air force, requires large quantities of specialized ammunition for a variety of systems such as small arms, artillery, missiles, and air defense systems. The demand for large-caliber ammunition, precision-guided munitions, and aerial bombs is driven by the country’s strategic military position in the Gulf region and its involvement in regional security. the UAE Armed Forces rely on high-performance small-caliber rounds for their infantry, special forces, and vehicles, including assault rifles, machine guns, and sniper rifles. In the Law Enforcement sector, ammunition plays a critical role in ensuring public safety and maintaining order. The UAE’s law enforcement agencies, including police forces and security services, use small-caliber ammunition for sidearms (e.g., pistols) and rifles to address various law enforcement tasks. The demand for non-lethal ammunition, such as rubber bullets and tear gas canisters, has also risen, particularly for crowd control and riot management. The UAE Police and security agencies are increasingly adopting less-lethal munitions to minimize harm while maintaining control in sensitive situations, a growing trend in modern law enforcement. The Hunting & Sport Shooting market in the UAE is another significant sector driving demand for ammunition. With a strong cultural tradition of hunting, especially for falconry, there is demand for shotgun shells and hunting rounds. Ammunition used in target shooting, trap shooting, and skeet shooting includes small-caliber rounds for pistols and rifles, as well as shotgun cartridges. The country’s strong interest in these activities, both recreationally and professionally, fuels continued demand for high-quality ammunition.




Considered in this report
• Historic Year: 2019
• Base year: 2024
• Estimated year: 2025
• Forecast year: 2030

Aspects covered in this report
• Ammunition Market with its value and forecast along with its segments
• Various drivers and challenges
• On-going trends and developments
• Top profiled companies
• Strategic recommendation

By Product
• Bullets
• Aerial Bombs
• Grenades
• Artillery Shells
• Mortars

By Caliber
• Large Caliber (Above 40mm)
• Medium Caliber (12.7mm to 40mm)
• Small Caliber (Up to 12.7mm)

By Application
• Defense & Military
• Law Enforcement
• Hunting & Sport Shooting
• Commercial Use

The approach of the report:
This report consists of a combined approach of primary as well as secondary research. Initially, secondary research was used to get an understanding of the market and listing out the companies that are present in the market. The secondary research consists of third-party sources such as press releases, annual report of companies, analyzing the government generated reports and databases. After gathering the data from secondary sources primary research was conducted by making telephonic interviews with the leading players about how the market is functioning and then conducted trade calls with dealers and distributors of the market. Post this we have started doing primary calls to consumers by equally segmenting consumers in regional aspects, tier aspects, age group, and gender. Once we have primary data with us we have started verifying the details obtained from secondary sources.

Intended audience
This report can be useful to industry consultants, manufacturers, suppliers, associations & organizations related to agriculture industry, government bodies and other stakeholders to align their market-centric strategies. In addition to marketing & presentations, it will also increase competitive knowledge about the industry.