Emirati company Arzanah based in Abu Dhabi unveiled two types of unmanned underwater vehicles (UUV) during the IDEX 2025 exhibition. One of them is already procured by the UAE ministry of defense. These local UUVs illustrate the UAE Navy’s growing interest in cutting-edge underwater technology and the will for local development.
Arzanah specializes in designing, developing, and integrating autonomous platforms and technological solutions for defense applications. The company possesses experience in research, development, and industrial applications, primarily focusing on autonomous robotics systems and other “advanced defense systems”.
Hosted on the Tawazun Council booth – acquisitions authority for the UAE Ministry of Defense and security agencies, but also in charge to develop and strengthen local defence industry – Arzanah displayed for the first two new UUVs fully designed loacally.
Al Kasir UUV
The first one – displayed as a mockup – and dubbed “Al Kasir” is a 3 meters-long UUV dedicated for underwater intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR). According to the company, it features a modular structure, AI-based autonomous navigation, 50-hour endurance, and integrated EO/IR cameras, Sonar sensors, and Sattelite/RF communication systems. The R&D on the project is still ongoing, however three prototypes were already manufactured and are conducting sea trials in order to make data gathering to train the AI-models. A first product should be delivered to the UAE Navy in September 2025. If the company presents it as an ISR system, the spokesperson told Naval News that the exact application remain to be determined.
Unfortunately, a lot is still unknown as Arzanah described the project as “confidential”. Same thing for the second UUV which is described below which is commented as a “highly sensitive project”.
Ghawwas large unmanned underwater combat vehicle
The second one – named “Ghawwas” – consists of a large unmanned underwater combat vehicle (LUUCV) project developed on the quiet, however, unlike the Al Kasir mentioned above as a potentially offensive platform. The design would measure 11 meters, and the company advances it as an deep-sea exploration platform with “unlimited depth capability” which is of course still to be demonstrated. Developed thanks to Finite Element Method (FEM) analysis for now it should include a dual propulsion (propeller and pump-jet), magnetic anomaly detection, torpedo launch tubes, AI-based situational awareness. Regarding its autonomy, the LUUCV could remain underwater 144 hours at 4 knots and reach speeds of 20 knots.
The R&D phase is over and the first prototype is now under construction in their facilities. Arzanah’s spokesperson told Naval News the project should take another step up as the Emirati MoD just ordered, on February 17th. during IDEX 2025, the pursuit of the works which calls for the delivery of a demonstrator that should take place in September 2026. However the conditions of this order and its outcome remain confidential.
