Due to the combination of its energy wealth, the need to ensure that its shipping lanes remain open and protected, and the complexities of its surrounding area, the UAE has continued the arms shopping spree it initiated in the 1990s. Since that time, the country has bought some of the world's most sophisticated weaponry from the U.S. and France. Whereas the continuation of nearly two decades of significant arms importation would put tremendous strain on the economies of many other nations, the UAE's vast energy reserves, years of high oil revenues, and emphasis on economic diversification, have allowed the country to proceed apace as a key buyer on the global arms market. While the country's initial exploration into serious arms purchases in the 1990s grew from the threat emanating from Saddam Hussein's Iraq, is the UAE's current purchases are driven more by concerns over Iran and Islamic terrorism. It also reflects a desire to ensure that the country's shipping lanes around the Strait of Hormuz remain unobstructed. Coastal defense, internal security, and the UAE's role in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) collective security alliance are also crucial factors.
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