Washington, D.C. — Today, the Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) is announcing that it will significantly upgrade the status of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) under the Export Administration Regulations (EAR) (15 CFR parts 730-774) in recognition of the UAE’s status as a U.S. Major Defense Partner and its support in advancing U.S. national security interests, including Operation Epic Fury.

BIS will remove the UAE from EAR Country Groups D:3 and D:4, which will, among other things, eliminate restrictions on support for the UAE’s unmanned aerial vehicle programs.  At the same time, BIS will reclassify the UAE as EAR Country Group A:5. This will provide the UAE Government and approved commercial entities with eligibility for license-free exports, reexports, and in-country transfers under License Exception Strategic Trade Authorization (STA) of Commerce-controlled military items; certain commercial satellites and spacecraft; and dual-use items useful in oil and gas production, desalination, civil nuclear power generation, and/or other items available to Country Group A:5 destinations license-free.  License-free exports, reexports, and in-country transfers of these items under STA will support key UAE commercial and infrastructure needs and better equip the UAE defense establishment to support U.S. interests in the Middle East.  This special status under the EAR is warranted in light of the ongoing U.S.-UAE military partnership and the UAE’s commitment to preventing the diversion and misuse of sensitive U.S. technology.

In addition, consistent with the U.S.-UAE Artificial Intelligence Cooperation framework signed in May 2025, Commerce is approving the UAE Government and certain companies to receive advanced computing items in the UAE license-free, including AI chips and servers.  The UAE has reaffirmed its commitment to the investment commitments in the framework, including the commitment to make matching investments in U.S. AI digital infrastructure buildout.

For additional information, please see the Federal Register notice implementing these regulatory changes described above, which is available for public inspection here.

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