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NATIONAL FORCES · COMPARISON
Israel vs United Arab Emirates
| Overview | Israel | United Arab Emirates |
|---|---|---|
Active personnel DefinitionFull-time active military personnel; exclude reserves and paramilitary unless explicitly identified. | 170,000Estimate · people · 2025Single sourceReported full-time active military personnel, including serving conscripts where present; reserve pools are not added. This is an estimated headcount, not an authorised establishment, mobilisation potential or readiness measure. The active IDF figure includes ground, naval and air forces. The separate reserve pool is not added; the source gives only a lower bound for that pool. | 65,000Estimate · people · 2025Single sourceReported full-time active military personnel, including serving conscripts where present; reserve pools are not added. This is an estimated headcount, not an authorised establishment, mobilisation potential or readiness measure. Includes 45,000 Land Forces, 3,000 Navy, 5,000 Air Force and 12,000 Presidential Guard. No separate headcount is supplied for the newly organised National Guard; none is added. |
Armed forces personnel DefinitionActive-duty military personnel, including paramilitary forces whose training, organisation, equipment and control allow them to support or replace regular forces. This is not an active-regular-only count. | 178,000people · 2020Single source2020 annual observation. Active-duty military personnel, including qualifying paramilitary forces; not an active-regular-only count. | 63,000people · 2020Single source2020 annual observation. Active-duty military personnel, including qualifying paramilitary forces; not an active-regular-only count. |
Combat aircraft DefinitionIn-service fixed-wing combat aircraft; exclude stored, retired and ordered aircraft. In service does not establish readiness. | 278Estimate · aircraft · 8 Oct 2024Single sourceNational in-service fixed-wing aircraft classified as Combat aircraft by FlightGlobal/Cirium, summing the Active column across all military services listed for the country. Excludes the separately classified trainers, special-mission aircraft, tankers and helicopters, as well as aircraft in storage, undergoing or awaiting upgrades, and orders. This is the directory's active-role inventory estimate, not a measure of combat readiness. | 115Estimate · aircraft · 8 Oct 2024Single sourceNational in-service fixed-wing aircraft classified as Combat aircraft by FlightGlobal/Cirium, summing the Active column across all military services listed for the country. Excludes the separately classified trainers, special-mission aircraft, tankers and helicopters, as well as aircraft in storage, undergoing or awaiting upgrades, and orders. This is the directory's active-role inventory estimate, not a measure of combat readiness. |
Defence spending DefinitionAnnual military expenditure in current US dollars. State fiscal year, coverage and conversion basis in notes. | US$39.7bnEstimate · USD · 2025 IISS defence budget assessmentSingle sourceSource-reported annual official defence budget/appropriation in current US dollars; it is a budget figure, not an assertion of final expenditure or readiness. Explicit 2025 economic-table year column; USD 39.7bn. The table was compiled in the November 2025 IISS assessment; this annual figure is an assessment/estimate and does not assert a final audited outturn. Source coverage/fiscal-year notes: [a] Includes supplementary funding agreements in 2024 and 2025 | US$21.7bnEstimate · USD · 2025 IISS defence budget assessmentSingle sourceSource-reported annual official defence budget/appropriation in current US dollars; it is a budget figure, not an assertion of final expenditure or readiness. Explicit 2025 economic-table year column; USD ε21.7bn. The table was compiled in the November 2025 IISS assessment; this annual figure is an assessment/estimate and does not assert a final audited outturn. Source coverage/fiscal-year notes: [a] Defence budget estimate derived from central MoD expenditure and a proportion of the Federal Services section of the Abu Dhabi budget The printed ε marks this cell as estimated. |
GDP DefinitionAnnual nominal GDP in current US dollars, not purchasing-power parity. | US$666bnEstimate · USD · 2026 IISS nominal GDP forecast (November 2025 assessment)Single sourceAnnual nominal GDP at current market prices, in source-reported current US dollars. Excludes purchasing-power-parity GDP and real GDP growth. Explicit 2026 economic-table year column; USD 666bn. The table was compiled in the November 2025 IISS assessment; this annual figure is an assessment/estimate and does not assert a final audited outturn. The explicit 2026 column is forward-looking relative to the November 2025 assessment and is retained as a forecast, not an observed final outturn. | US$601bnEstimate · USD · 2026 IISS nominal GDP forecast (November 2025 assessment)Single sourceAnnual nominal GDP at current market prices, in source-reported current US dollars. Excludes purchasing-power-parity GDP and real GDP growth. Explicit 2026 economic-table year column; USD 601bn. The table was compiled in the November 2025 IISS assessment; this annual figure is an assessment/estimate and does not assert a final audited outturn. The explicit 2026 column is forward-looking relative to the November 2025 assessment and is retained as a forecast, not an observed final outturn. |
Main battle tanks DefinitionIn-service main battle tanks; exclude storage and orders. | 400Estimate · vehicles · 2025 edition; census date not statedSingle sourceApproximate in-service Israeli Merkava IV/IV Barak MBT fleet; excludes approximately 700 Merkava III and 200 Merkava IV explicitly in store. | 363Estimate · vehicles · 2025 edition; census date not statedSingle sourceNational MBT fleet: Army 313 plus Presidential Guard Command 50. These are separately enumerated forces; excludes Scorpion light tanks. |
Population DefinitionTotal resident population; retain the source's reference year. | 10,122,800people · 2025Single source2025 annual observation. Midyear resident population estimate. | 11,513,149people · 2025Single source2025 annual observation. Midyear resident population estimate. |
Reserve personnel DefinitionReported reserve personnel, with mobilisation and training definitions stated in notes. | 465,000Estimate · people · November 2025 IISS assessmentSingle sourceNational military reserve pool; excludes the separately reported active and paramilitary personnel. Training/mobilisation definitions remain source-specific. | 0Estimate · people · 2025 source edition; census date not statedSingle sourceMilitary reserve personnel in the 2025 IISS source edition cited by this Wikipedia row. Reservists are not normally kept under arms and are available for mobilisation. Excludes the separately reported Active military and Paramilitary columns. This is the cited edition year, not an exact census date. |
Submarines DefinitionCommissioned submarines; exclude vessels on order and decommissioned vessels. | 5Estimate · vessels · 15 Aug 2024Single sourceCommissioned military submarines in the national fleet; excludes orders, construction and uncommissioned trial boats. Fleet count, not immediately deployable strength. | 0Estimate · vessels · 4 May 2026Single sourceCommissioned military submarines in the national fleet; excludes orders, construction and uncommissioned trial boats. Fleet count, not immediately deployable strength. |
Transport aircraft DefinitionIn-service dedicated fixed-wing military transport aircraft; exclude trainers and orders. | 13Estimate · aircraft · 8 Oct 2024Single sourceNational in-service fixed-wing military transport aircraft classified as Transport by FlightGlobal/Cirium, summing the Active column across all military services listed for the country. Includes strategic, tactical and light liaison/utility transport aircraft; excludes the separately classified trainers, special-mission aircraft, tankers and helicopters, as well as aircraft in storage, undergoing or awaiting upgrades, and orders. This is the directory's active-role inventory estimate, not a measure of immediate availability. | 37Estimate · aircraft · 8 Oct 2024Single sourceNational in-service fixed-wing military transport aircraft classified as Transport by FlightGlobal/Cirium, summing the Active column across all military services listed for the country. Includes strategic, tactical and light liaison/utility transport aircraft; excludes the separately classified trainers, special-mission aircraft, tankers and helicopters, as well as aircraft in storage, undergoing or awaiting upgrades, and orders. This is the directory's active-role inventory estimate, not a measure of immediate availability. |
Nuclear warheads DefinitionWarheads in the military stockpile, deployed or in reserve; exclude retired warheads awaiting dismantlement. Independent estimates, labelled as such. | 90Estimate · warheads · 2026 estimateSingle sourceWarheads in the military stockpile: in the custody of the military and earmarked for use by military forces, deployed or in reserve. Excludes retired warheads awaiting dismantlement. | —Not yet documented |
Major surface combatants DefinitionCommissioned cruisers, destroyers and frigates. Exclude patrol craft and support vessels. | —Not yet documented | —Not yet documented |
EQUIPMENT & WEAPONS
Equipment listed in inventory and operator sources, grouped by force and category. Sourced quantities retain their date, variant coverage and inventory status. Equipment without a documented count is listed by type.
402 matching equipment types
| Equipment | Israel | United Arab Emirates |
|---|---|---|
| Combat aircraft | ||
| Boeing F-15EX Eagle II | In service | — |
| Dassault Mirage III | In service | — |
| F-15 Eagle | 50Air Force · 2025 21Air forces equipment · 2025Wikipedia | — |
| F-16 Fighting Falcon | 222Air forces equipment · 2025Wikipedia | 55United Arab Emirates Air Force · 2025Wikipedia |
| F-35 Lightning II | 482026 | — |
| McDonnell Douglas F-15E Strike Eagle | 25Air forces equipment · 2026Wikipedia | — |
| Mirage 2000 | — | 44United Arab Emirates Air Force · 2025Wikipedia |
| Rafale | — | In service |
| Support aircraft | ||
| A330 MRTT | — | 4United Arab Emirates Air Force · 2025 |
| Air Tractor AT-802 | 8Air forces equipment · 2026Wikipedia | 16United Arab Emirates Air Force · 2025Wikipedia |
| Ayres Thrush | — | 24United Arab Emirates Air Force · 2025Wikipedia |
| Beechcraft Bonanza | 19Air Force · 2025 22Air forces equipment · 2026Wikipedia | — |
| Equipment | Israel | United Arab Emirates |
|---|---|---|
| Tanks | ||
| AMX-30 | — | 45United Arab Emirates Army · 2025 |
| FV101 Scorpion | — | 76United Arab Emirates Army · 2025 |
| Leclerc | — | 50Presidential Guard Command · 2025 268United Arab Emirates Army · 2025 |
| M60 tank | In service | — |
| Merkava | 4002025 | — |
| Armoured vehicles | ||
| Achzarit | 100Ground forces equipment · 2024Wikipedia | — |
| Alvis Saracen | — | In service |
| AMX-VCI | In service | In service |
| BAE Caiman | — | 460United Arab Emirates Army · 2025 |
| BMC Kirpi | — | In service |
| BMP-3 | — | 250Presidential Guard Command · 2025 652United Arab Emirates Army · 2026Wikipedia |
| BTR-3 | — | 90Presidential Guard Command · 2025 |
| Equipment | Israel | United Arab Emirates |
|---|---|---|
| Air defence | ||
| Arrow (missile family) | In service | — |
| Barak 1 | In service | — |
| Barak 8 | In service | — |
| Barak MX | In service | — |
| DARDO | — | In service |
| David's Sling | In service | — |
| Iron Dome | In service | — |
| M-SAM | — | In service |
| M167 VADS | In service | — |
| MIM-23 Hawk | In service | 343United Arab Emirates Army · 2026Wikipedia |
| Pantsir missile system | — | 50United Arab Emirates Army · 2026Wikipedia |
| Patriot | In service | 12United Arab Emirates Army · 2026Wikipedia |
| Equipment | Israel | United Arab Emirates |
|---|---|---|
| Small arms | ||
| AK-47 | In service | In service |
| AKM | In service | — |
| AKS-74U | In service | — |
| AR-M1 | — | In service |
| Armsel Striker | In service | — |
| Barrett M82 | In service | In service |
| Barrett MRAD | In service | — |
| Barrett REC10 | In service | — |
| Beretta M1951 | In service | — |
| Browning Hi-Power | In service | In service |
| Brügger & Thomet MP9 | In service | — |
| BUL Cherokee | In service | — |
| Equipment | Israel | United Arab Emirates |
|---|---|---|
| Radar & sensors | ||
| Advanced Combat Optical Gunsight | In service | — |
| AN/TPS-44 | In service | — |
| IAI Harpy | In service | — |
| Communications & electronic warfare | ||
| AN/PRC-77 Portable Transceiver | In service | — |
| Mark 36 SRBOC | — | In service |
Coverage is incomplete. “Not documented” means no linked inventory evidence, not zero equipment. Methodology ↗
Points represent sourced observations, including revisions. Revisions on the same effective date are not separate inventory events. Ranges appear in the table and are not plotted as exact points.
| Observation / report period | Value | Source | Claim state |
|---|---|---|---|
| November 2025 IISS population assessment | 9,552,637 people | International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) | superseded |
No shared land boundary is represented in the Natural Earth dataset. Approximate separation between the dataset’s country label points: 2,100 km.
Generalized geography from Natural Earth 1:110m, version 5.1.1. Label-point distance is calculated on a sphere and rounded to the nearest 100 km; it is not a capital-to-capital distance, route, border distance or operational range. Dataset boundaries do not imply recognition of territorial claims.
Boundaries: Natural Earth 1:110m, v5.1.1 · Public domain · Research catalogue highlighted
Israel24.0Ranked #19-0.1United Arab Emirates16.4Ranked #33-0.2Scores out of 100 on the ForceTally Index. Each bar splits in proportion to the two scores. A point at the centre of the chart means no sourced figure for that part.
Points represent sourced observations, including revisions. Revisions on the same effective date are not separate inventory events. Ranges appear in the table and are not plotted as exact points.
| Observation / report period | Value | Source | Claim state |
|---|---|---|---|
| November 2025 IISS population assessment | 10,093,593 people | International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) | superseded |