Tawazun Council for Defense Enablement and South Korea’s LIG Defense & Aerospace (LIG D&A) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen collaboration in the defense and security sector.
The partnership aims to develop a global defense manufacturing hub in the UAE through a landed company structure, marking a strategic step in the country’s industrial and security capabilities.
Under the MoU, the parties will establish a dialogue for cooperation in developing industrial capabilities in the UAE through establishing a locally incorporated entity – landed company and collaboration in key areas including research and development, manufacturing and maintenance support, and supply chain integration.
The MoU was signed by Shareef Hashim Al Hashmi, Director-General of Industry Development at Tawazun, and Gunhyuk Lee, MENA President of LIG D&A, on the sidelines of Make it in the Emirates 2026.
The event, the UAE’s premier industrial platform hosted by the Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology, highlights the strategic importance of partnerships that advance industrial localization, strengthen supply chains, and attract investment in advanced manufacturing across the country.
Shareef Hashim Al Hashmi stated that, “Tawazun’s MoU with LIG D&A reflects our continued commitment to building high-value international partnerships that translate into tangible industrial outcomes for the UAE. By attracting leading global companies to establish a presence in the UAE through a landed company structure, we are deepening industrial integration, strengthening national capabilities, and reinforcing the UAE’s position on the global defense map.”
“The UAE’s defense industrial ecosystem offers a compelling environment for global manufacturers to establish, scale, and innovate. This MoU with Tawazun marks an important step in our commitment to contributing to the UAE’s national defense industrial growth, and we look forward to developing this partnership into a long-term and impactful collaboration,” Gunhyuk Lee noted.
