The United Arab Emirates has announced an agreement to purchase 20 C-390 military cargo aircraft from Brazilian manufacturer Embraer. The deal was signed on Monday in Abu Dhabi during the ‘Make it in the Emirates 2026’ platform. According to Reuters, the UAE is the first Middle Eastern country to select this versatile military transport aircraft. The initial phase includes confirmed delivery of 10 aircraft, with an option to acquire 10 more later. The contract, valued at around 1 billion US dollars, marks a major milestone for Embraer.

Bosco da Costa Junior, head of Embraer’s defense and security unit, described the Middle East as a strategic region for the company and expressed optimism that the deal would open new opportunities for defense equipment sales in the area. The UAE currently operates Lockheed Martin’s C-130 and Boeing’s C-17 aircraft for air cargo transport.

Under the agreement, local Emirati firms will collaborate with Embraer on maintenance and training, enhancing the UAE’s defense capabilities and technical capacity.