Rabat – Morocco and the UAE are seeking stronger military cooperation, while commending the already growing partnership.
General Mohamed Berrid, Inspector General of Morocco’s Armed Forces (FAR) and Commander of the Southern Zone, received today Lieutenant General Issa Saif bin Ablan Al Mazrouei, Chief of Staff of the UAE Armed Forces, in Rabat.
The meeting was held under King Mohammed VI’s instructions.
The UAE military official is leading a high-level delegation as part of the third meeting of the Moroccan-Emirati Joint Military Committee that took place on October 5.
King Mohammed VI, the Supreme Commander and Chief of the General Staff of the Moroccan army, awarded Al Mazrouei the rank of Grand Officer in the Military Order of Merit.
The award is in recognition of the UAE official’s efforts to strengthen military cooperation between the two countries.
A statement from FAR said Berrid and Al Mazrouei commended the level reached by military cooperation between the two countries, particularly in the areas of capability development, defense industry, as well as training to exchange expertise.
Both countries also expressed commitment to further consolidate and develop cooperation.
The UAE delegation will also take part in the Marrakech Air Show 2026, which will take place from October 7-10.
Morocco and the UAE signed their first military agreement in 1980, reflecting their commitment to strengthening cooperation. The defense cooperation includes exchanges of visits and continuous talks on regional and international issues.
The UAE delegation visit comes amid regional tensions, including Algeria’s decision to sever diplomatic ties with the UAE on September 10.
Algeria’s regime cited mounting regional tensions and “provocative or hostile acts,” giving the UAE ambassador a 48-hour deadline to leave the country. It also closed its airspace to all UAE-registered civilian and military aircraft.
The decision came years after it took the same decision to sever ties with Morocco in 2021, accusing it of causing the wildfires – an allegation Rabat called unfounded and fallacious.
Rabat also regretted Algeria’s decision to sever relations amid Morocco’s calls, extending an olive branch to restore diplomatic ties amid an already fragile region due to terrorism and escalations.
Algeria’s regime, long seen as marred in isolation, also challenges Morocco’s territorial integrity by supporting Polisario’s separatism and independence claims in Western Sahara.
