H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, and Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), chaired the first Defence Council meeting of 2026, as part of ongoing efforts to strengthen the nation’s defence capabilities and advance military preparedness in line with approved strategic visions.
The meeting reviewed a range of topics related to modernisation and the adoption of new technologies, in addition to discussing plans and programmes aimed at enhancing readiness and institutional efficiency to further boost the capabilities of the Armed Forces and enable them to carry out their duties with utmost dedication.
The Council also addressed several initiatives aligned with future development plans for the defence sector and the Ministry’s strategic objectives, UAE national news agency WAM reported.
The meeting forms part of the Ministry’s continued efforts to drive comprehensive development and reinforce the state of readiness of the Armed Forces.
The meeting was attended by Mohamed bin Mubarak bin Fadhel Al Mazrouei, Minister of State for Defence Affairs; Lieutenant General Issa Saif bin Ablan Al Mazrouei, Chief of Staff of the UAE Armed Forces; and Lt. General Staff Ibrahim Nasser Al Alawi, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Defence; along with Senior Armed Forces Officers.
In another development, Sheikh Hamdan attended Thursday the graduation ceremony of the 26th cohort of the Rashid Bin Saeed Al Maktoum Naval College in Abu Dhabi.
The graduation ceremony was also attended by Mohamed bin Mubarak bin Fadhel Al Mazrouei, Minister of State for Defence Affairs; and Lieutenant General Issa Saif bin Ablan Al Mazrouei, Chief of Staff of the UAE Armed Forces; Lt. General Staff Ibrahim Nasser Al Alawi, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Defence; Lieutenant General Mike Hindmarsh, President of Zayed Military University, and Major General Humaid Mohammed Abdullah Alremeithi, Commander, UAE Naval Forces Commander, along with Senior Armed Forces Officers.
The ceremony featured a parade by the graduating cadets. The cadets pledged to uphold the sovereignty of the UAE and to be loyal to President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. In the presence of H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed and the assembled audience, the cadets also solemnly declared their readiness to sacrifice their lives to defend the UAE and its security. Sheikh Hamdan also honoured the outstanding cadets, wishing them the best in serving the nation.
H.H. said that the UAE has a strong strategic focus on investing in people and advancing military capabilities to safeguard the nation and its achievements. He stressed that strengthening naval expertise remains central to the national defence system and to the leadership’s vision of sustained readiness and preparedness.
In his address, Brigadier General Hamza Mohammed Abdullah Al Shamsi, Commandant of Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum Naval College, thanked H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum for his patronage and presence. He said the college is a modern institution attracting students from around the world and committed to preparing qualified national cadres to safeguard the homeland and its waters.
He also praised the leadership’s continued support for the Ministry of Defence and the college’s progress, noting the advanced skills achieved by naval cadets through comprehensive academic and field training, simulation exercises, and the latest maritime security technologies.
At the end of the ceremony, he posed for a commemorative photo with the graduates and extended to them his heartiest wishes to excel in their military careers and make the nation proud.
