The United Arab Emirates received a first batch of French Rafale fighter jets Thursday under a deal made with France in 2021, in a sign of deepening ties between the two countries.

The first Rafale jet produced by French company Dassault Aviation for the UAE air force was unveiled during a ceremony held in Paris. Attendees included Emirati Defense Minister Mohamed bin Mubarak Fadhel Al Mazrouei and his French counterpart, Sebastien Lecornu, along with senior officials from the Ministry of Defense and high-ranking representatives from both sides, the official WAM news agency reported.

"صفقة تاريخية" لتعزيز قدرات القوات المسلحة الإماراتية
تدشين أول طائرة "رافال" الفرنسية ضمن الدفعة الأولى
وزير الدولة لشؤون الدفاع:
• رافال" أثبتت كفاءتها واستراتيجيتنا قائمة على اقتناء أحدث الأسلحة والمعدات لتطوير منظومة الدفاع الوطني. pic.twitter.com/JT5DUq88ZY

— وزارة الدفاع........

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