The Arab League has awarded the UAE for its contribution to fighting the illicit trade in small arms and light weapons in the Arab region — a formal honour that underlines the country's growing role in regional security cooperation.
UAE Recognised at Cairo Arms Conference
The recognition was presented at the Conference on Combating the Illicit Trade in, and Proliferation of Small Arms and Light Weapons, held at Arab League headquarters in Cairo. The event was organised in partnership with the European Union and brought together member states to address the illegal flow of weapons across the region.
Mohamed Suhail Al Neyadi, CEO of the Weapons and Hazardous Substances Office at the UAE's Supreme Council for National Security, accepted the award on behalf of the UAE delegation.
EU–Arab League Program: Second Phase
The Cairo conference focused on major concerns arising from the second phase of the EU–Arab League cooperation program. Discussions centred on cross-border threats and concrete measures to combat the illicit supply of weapons, including small arms and light weapons — a category of arms that has fuelled conflicts across parts of the Arab world.
Jordan and Morocco were also recognised during the closing meeting of the same program phase, reflecting a broader Arab-world push to bring weapons trafficking under control.
UAE's Role in Regional Security
The award positions the UAE as a key partner in multilateral arms-control efforts. The Supreme Council for National Security's Weapons and Hazardous Substances Office has been the UAE's focal point in coordinating with international bodies — including Interpol and the World Customs Organization — on stemming illegal arms flows.
The EU–Arab League project has been instrumental in building capacity among Arab states to implement the UN Programme of Action on the illicit trade in small arms and light weapons.
