Australia’s defense industry is prominently showcasing its products at a major international airshow in Dubai this week, as government data reveals the United Arab Emirates has become its largest weapons export market. Over the past five years, Australian companies have exported nearly $300 million in arms and ammunition to the UAE.
The timing of this exhibition raises significant questions, as international organizations and Australian lawmakers voice concerns about potential weapons diversion to Sudan’s civil war. A paramilitary group there, the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), stands accused of committing mass atrocities, including killings and sexual violence, particularly following their recent capture of El Fasher in the Darfur region.
United Nations investigators have documented evidence suggesting the UAE has supplied sophisticated weaponry to the RSF, primarily through neighboring countries. These arms are reportedly exchanged for gold smuggled out of Sudan, with an estimated 90% of the country’s gold production—valued at billions of dollars—illegally reaching UAE markets.
Australia’s government is actively supporting defense companies at the Dubai event, with taxpayer funds covering participation costs and retired military officers providing what official documents describe as “key credibility” for engaging with international defense delegations.
Critics argue this support comes despite mounting evidence of weapons diversion. “When you sell weapons to regimes like the UAE, those weapons inevitably find their way into the world’s bloodiest conflicts,” said one parliamentarian, who noted the complete lack of public assurance that Australian-made arms aren’t being used in Sudan.
The Australian government maintains it operates a rigorous export control system consistent with international obligations. A defense department spokesperson stated that current laws address human rights considerations and regional security concerns, with enhanced oversight provisions implemented last year.
However, transparency remains limited. Export data reveals total shipment values but provides no details about specific weapon types or quantities sent to the UAE. Nor has the government clarified how it monitors weapons after export to prevent diversion to conflict zones.
International law experts note the difficulty in tracing weapons once they enter global supply chains. “While confirming Australian-made weapons have reached Sudan is challenging,” one legal scholar observed, “it’s equally impossible to confirm they definitely haven’t been used there.”
As the airshow proceeds in Dubai, human rights organizations and religious groups in Australia are calling for an immediate suspension of defense exports to the UAE and a parliamentary review of the country’s arms export framework, arguing current systems lack adequate accountability measures.
