United Arab Emirates Coast Guard

File:United Arab Emirates soldiers in U.S. Coast Guard training.jpg|left|175x175px]]

The UAE Coast Guard was first established in 1977 under the control of the UAE Ministry of Interior. Its initial role was a para-military one rather than a Navy. It was used to patrol maritime borders and intercept foreign small craft that illegally entered its waters. Thus, its role was framed as a law enforcement issue rather than a military responsibility.{{Cite book|last=Yates|first=Athol|title=The Evolution of the Armed Forces of the United Arab Emirates|publisher=Helion & Co|year=2020|isbn=9781912866007|location=Warwick|pages=40}}

The Coast Guard remained under Ministry of Interior control until 2001 when control was transferred to the UAE Navy. This change was likely in response to increased concern over the possibility of terrorist attacks on critical infrastructure in the UAE's littoral zone and on its islands in the post-9/11 world, and the effectiveness of the Coast Guard in countering this threat.{{Cite book|last=Yates|title=The Evolution of the Armed Forces of the United Arab Emirates|publisher=|year=2020|isbn=|location=|pages=265}}

By the beginning of 2004, the Coast Guard had become a separate service within the UAE Armed Forces, and was no longer the responsibility of the Navy. In general, the Coast Guard has been responsible for all law-enforcement activities across the country's ports, as well as inshore and offshore waters, as far as this is within its capabilities. In areas where the Coast guard is unable to do this, the Navy is expected to assume the Coast Guard's responsibility.{{Cite book|last=Yates|title=The Evolution of the Armed Forces of the United Arab Emirates|publisher=|year=2020|isbn=|location=|pages=266}}

The Coast Guard gained attention in August 2010 when officials foiled a terrorist attack on a Japanese oil tanker which was damaged in the Strait of Hormuz.{{cite news |last=Ahmad |first=Afshan |date=7 August 2010 |title=It's a terror attack |work=Khaleej Times |url=http://www.khaleejtimes.com/DisplayArticle08.asp?xfile=data/theuae/2010/August/theuae_August217.xml§ion=theuae}} In August 2020, three Coast Guard vessels intercepted several fishing boats that violated the territorial waters of the UAE north of Sir Abu Nu'ayr island in the Emirate of Sharjah. The fishing boats did not comply and the Coast Guard followed the rules of engagement in order to interdict them.{{Cite news |date=2020-08-17 |title=UAE coast guard boats engage 8 fishing boats -state news agency WAM |language=en |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/emirates-waters-security-idINL8N2FJ5A4 |access-date=2022-09-21}}

The UAE Coast Guard consists of roughly 1,200 personnel. They operate various small watercraft which are used for coastal and harbor patrol. In 2012, these vessels were reported to include roughly three dozen patrol craft, two dozen harbor patrol craft, six coastal patrol craft, and numerous raiding and work boats.{{Cite news |last=United States Army |date=December 2012 |title=OE Threat Assessment: United Arab Emirates (UAE) |pages=7 |work=TRADOC G-2 Intelligence Support Agency |url=https://community.apan.org/cfs-file/__key/docpreview-s/00-00-02-26-97/OE-Threat-Assessment-UAE.pdf |access-date=21 September 2022}}

In 2010, the coast guard awarded the Abu Dhabi Ship Building Co (ADSB) a contract to build 12 patrol boats called the Al-Saber class.[http://www.defensenews.com/story.php?i=3409221 ADSB Wins UAE Coast Guard Patrol Boats Deal: Defense News]{{dead link|date=August 2021|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}

{{reflist}}

• [https://www.helion.co.uk/military-history-books/the-evolution-of-the-armed-forces-of-the-united-arab-emirates-.php The Evolution of the Armed Forces of the United Arab Emirates] by Athol Yates

{{Coast guards}}

{{Military of the United Arab Emirates}}

Category:Coast guards

Category:Military of the United Arab Emirates