Why in the news
India UAE Desert Cyclone II Military Exercise: The second edition of the India–UAE joint military exercise Desert Cyclone II concluded on December 30, 2025, in Abu Dhabi.
The two-week exercise highlighted growing defence cooperation and operational trust between the two countries’ armed forces.
Background of the exercise
Desert Cyclone II is a bilateral army-level exercise conducted between the Indian Army and the UAE Land Forces.
The exercise was held from December 18 to 30, 2025, at Al-Hamra Training City, a modern combat training facility in Abu Dhabi.
Static GK fact: India and the UAE upgraded their relationship to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in 2017, with defence as a core pillar.
Participating contingents
The Indian contingent consisted of 45 personnel, primarily from a battalion of the Mechanised Infantry Regiment.
The UAE contingent was represented by the 53 Mechanised Infantry Battalion, reflecting parity in force composition.
This balanced participation enabled realistic joint training and effective exchange of operational practices.
Core training objectives
The primary objective was to enhance interoperability in urban warfare and sub-conventional operations.
Special focus was placed on operations conducted under a United Nations mandate, reflecting modern peacekeeping realities.
Static GK Tip: Urban warfare training has become central to modern armies due to increasing conflicts in densely populated cities.
Key training activities
Training combined classroom instruction with field-level execution.
Major activities included urban combat drills, room intervention techniques, marking and clearing of buildings, and IED awareness.
Medical response drills such as casualty evacuation and first aid procedures were also practiced extensively.
Advanced joint operations
The exercise featured heliborne operations and air assault drills, adding a vertical dimension to urban combat training.
These drills culminated in integrated offensive and defensive urban operations, showcasing joint planning and execution capability.
Such complex drills strengthened mutual confidence and battlefield coordination between the two forces.
Broader defence cooperation context
India and the UAE conduct regular joint exercises, training exchanges, and high-level defence dialogues.
These engagements contribute to regional security and support India’s growing role in West Asian defence diplomacy.
Static GK fact: India is one of the largest contributors to UN peacekeeping missions, giving practical relevance to UN-mandated exercise scenarios.
Strategic significance
Desert Cyclone II reinforces military-to-military ties and improves preparedness for multinational missions.
It reflects a shared commitment to regional stability, counter-terrorism cooperation, and rules-based international security.
The exercise also signals the maturation of India–UAE defence relations amid evolving global security challenges.
Static Usthadian Current Affairs Table
India UAE Desert Cyclone II Military Exercise:
| Topic | Detail |
| Exercise name | Desert Cyclone II |
| Participating countries | India and United Arab Emirates |
| Exercise duration | December 18–30, 2025 |
| Location | Al-Hamra Training City, Abu Dhabi |
| Indian contingent | 45 personnel from Mechanised Infantry |
| UAE contingent | 53 Mechanised Infantry Battalion |
| Core focus areas | Urban warfare, counter-terrorism, UN-mandated operations |
| Strategic outcome | Enhanced interoperability and defence cooperation |
