Gulf states are scrambling to replenish their depleted defence stocks after six weeks of sustained Iranian missile and drone attacks , turning to alternative suppliers beyond their traditional US security partners .
The search for new sources comes as regional militaries have exhausted large quantities of interceptor missiles in the ongoing campaign to repel Iranian strikes targeting oil facilities and military infrastructure across the Gulf.
Since the conflict began, Tehran is believed to have launched more than 850 missiles and over 2,600 drones at Gulf targets - forcing Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the UAE, and others to respond with more than 800 Patriot interceptor missiles, each estimated to cost between $1 million and $7 million.
The sheer scale of the attacks has exposed the unsustainability of these defence costs and the risks of relying solely on US arms manufacturers, some of which face delayed delivery times stretching into years. Ukraine enters the Gulf arms race During his late-March tour of the Middle East, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced he had deployed some 200 anti-drone specialists to three Gulf states and signed what he described as " ten-year strategic-level contracts " worth "billions" with regional partners.
"I won't say the exact figure, but we're talking billions, not millions - everyone will earn, Ukraine will earn, and we'll ensure that our soldiers have enough left," Zelensky said.
Saudi Arabia became the first to formalise a defence pact with Kyiv during Zelensky's visit to the kingdom. He drew parallels between the types of Iranian drones and missiles launched at Saudi Arabia, and those that Ukraine faces from Russia.
"We are ready to share our expertise and systems with Saudi Arabia and work together to strengthen the protection of lives", Zelensky said on X ahead of meetings with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. Ukrainian officials said the visit laid the foundations for "future contracts and technological investment".
Zelensky also told the Saudi leader that Russia had been assisting Iran’s regime in its ongoing strikes - a message aimed at underscoring Kyiv’s role as a frontline state in similar hybrid warfare, having fought off Russian attacks for more than four years.
Qatar, meanwhile, finalised its own ten-year defence agreement with Ukraine on 28 March, focusing on technology sharing, joint investment, and expertise in countering missiles and unmanned aerial systems, according to Doha’s defence ministry.
Talks with the UAE are said to be in advanced stages, with Kuwait, Oman, Bahrain and Jordan also exploring similar cooperation frameworks. Western and Asian suppliers join rearmament push The UK has emerged as a secondary supplier for Gulf states amid the interceptor shortages.
Defence Secretary John Healey announced that Cambridge Aerospace — a start-up specialising in low-cost air defence technology — will begin providing Gulf partners with newly developed short-range interceptor missiles known as 'Skyhammer'.
Designed to counter Iranian Shahed-style attack drones, the Skyhammer missile reportedly has a 30km range and can be paired with rapid-launch systems. First deliveries are expected as early as May, with additional supplies due within six months.
Healey made the announcement at the London Defence Conference last weekend, describing it as part of the UK's broader strategy to secure Gulf energy routes
Saudi Arabia has also reached out to Japan for Patriot interceptor resupplies and to South Korean firms Hanwha and LIG Nex1 regarding a possible procurement of the M-SAM system, according to The Wall Street Journal .
The rush to diversify arms suppliers comes as Gulf nations reassess their dependence on the US amid frustration over delays in a $23 billion weapons package approved during the Trump administration, which covers air defence systems for the UAE, Kuwait, and Jordan.
Though delivery timelines extend across several years, Gulf governments are now seeking quicker solutions if the US-Israeli war resumes, when a two-week ceasefire deal expires on 21 April.