Defence and security company Saab has partnered with Tawazun, a strategic investment company focusing on defence and strategic manufacturing, to create a new UAE-based radar company.

The new company is Abu Dhabi Advanced Radar Systems (ADARS), which is a joint venture where 51 percent is owned by Tawazun and 49 percent by Saab. This will be the Middle East region’s first company for the development, manufacture, assembly and integration of radar systems.

“Creating ADARS is part of our strategy to increase our presence in key markets. UAE is one of these key markets, where we have had business relations since the 1980s, including within the radar system area”, said Saab’s President and CEO Håkan Buskhe.

Commenting on the new partnership, H.E Saif Mohamed Al Hajeri, Chief Executive Officer of Tawazun stated: “As we continue to grow as an organisation, diversify our product portfolio and extend our capabilities, it is imperative that we partner with like-minded entities who share our vision and who complement our values and ambitions. This partnership with Saab will see us invest in advanced technologies to develop unique products for the defence market, which is testament to our commitment to continuously adapting and improving new technology to meet our customers’ changing needs.”

ADARS will be a local radar capability centre for development of next generation radar systems, and for production, maintenance and support services in the radar system area. As part of the agreement, and to strengthen the UAE's and ADARS´s overall technical skill sets and assist the country's defence capabilities in the development and delivery of advanced radar systems, 15 UAE nationals will participate in a Masters program in Microwave and Radar Technology Engineering in Sweden.