# UAE delays Mirage 2000-9 transfer to Morocco

- Link: https://www.military.africa/2026/05/uae-delays-mirage-2000-9-transfer-to-morocco/
- Published: 2026-05-02T11:46:18+01:00
- Author: Israel Chukwuma

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has postponed the transfer of 30 Dassault Mirage 
2000-9 fighter jets to Morocco due to heightened regional instability, which compels
the UAE to sustain its full operational combat capabilities.

Initial plans anticipated completing the transfer by 2027; however, the UAE military
leadership elected in February 2026 to retain the aircraft at[ Al Dhafra Air Base in UAE](https://www.military.africa/2017/11/moroccan-air-forces-f-16s-en-route-to-uae-for-advanced-tactical-leadership-course-exercise/)
to ensure continued operational readiness. This decision follows a significant escalation
in hostilities across the Middle East, involving extensive aerial confrontations
among the United States, Israel, and Iran. The conflict, which intensified following“
Operation Epic Fury” in February 2026, has seen Iranian retaliatory strikes targeting
military and civilian infrastructure throughout the Gulf region, including within
the UAE.

[The original arrangement for the 30 jets](https://www.military.africa/2025/01/uae-mirage-2000-9e-jets-heading-for-morocco/),
conceived in late 2021 as a donation to the Royal Moroccan Armed Forces  (RMAF),
aimed to repurpose these airframes to accommodate the integration of 80 French-built
Rafale F4 fighters. Nonetheless, the initial deployment of Rafale units only commenced
this year, with full fleet deployment anticipated no earlier than 2031. Given the
current threat landscape, Emirati officials are reluctant to create a capability
gap by releasing the Mirage aircraft before the Rafale fleet attains full operational
status.

A comprehensive maintenance contract signed on 20 February 2025 at UAE’s International
Defence Exhibition (IDEX) reaffirms the UAE’s dedication to maintaining the fleet’s
operational status over the long term. This agreement between Safran Aircraft Engines
and the UAE-based Global Aerospace Logistics (GAL) encompasses extensive maintenance
for the SNECMA M53-P2 engines that power the Mirage fleet, ensuring these aircraft
remain mission-ready for active defense operations prior to any potential transfer
to Morocco.

The pathway to such transfer was previously obstructed by formal diplomatic constraints.
Under the terms of the original 1998 sales agreement, France retained a veto over
the re-export of the aircraft to third parties. [French authorities initially obstructed the transfer to Morocco](https://www.military.africa/2022/04/uae-offers-morocco-and-egypt-entire-mirage-2000-fleet/),
reportedly considering the jets for potential delivery to Ukraine. This diplomatic
standoff was resolved in early 2024 following high-level negotiations and a shift
in France’s stance regarding Western Sahara, concluding in President Emmanuel Macron’s
formal recognition of Moroccan sovereignty over the territory on 30 July 2024.

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The Mirage 2000-9, as the most sophisticated variant of the Mirage series, offers
a strategic technological enhancement bridging older fourth-generation platforms
and the Rafale. Equipped with the Thales RDY-2 multi-mode radar, capable of tracking
eight targets and engaging four simultaneously with fire-and-forget missiles, and
the Integrated Modular Electronic Warfare Suite (IMEWS) for comprehensive threat
detection and jamming, this aircraft signifies a substantial upgrade.

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For Morocco, the delay impacts a crucial modernization initiative. Currently, [the RMAF operates a mixed fleet of F-16 Block 52+ jets](https://www.military.africa/2025/01/uae-mirage-2000-9e-jets-heading-for-morocco/),
alongside aging Mirage F-1s and upgraded F-5 Tigers. Acquisition of the Emirati 
Mirage 2000-9s, capable of deploying Black Shaheen cruise missiles and Mica NG air-
to-air missiles, would notably enhance Morocco’s maritime strike and air defense
capacities, especially given Algeria’s ongoing integration of Russian-made Su-35
and Su-57 aircraft.

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Morocco has consistently demonstrated strong support for the UAE amid recent regional
tensions, with King Mohammed VI engaging in multiple communications with UAE President
Mohammed bin Zayed to reaffirm military and technical cooperation. Moroccan intelligence
and technical personnel have reportedly contributed to strengthening Emirati defensive
systems against drone and missile threats during the recent surge in strikes.

The timeline for the aircraft’s deployment to Morocco now hinges on regional stability
in the Gulf and the pace of Rafale acquisitions. While political support for the
transfer remains, the immediate need for combat-ready aircraft in the UAE has shifted
the expected delivery window toward the end of this decade. Morocco’s impending 
capability enhancement is likely to involve the procurement of an additional 25 
F-16 Block 70 fighters; however, this program has also experienced delays.