TURKISH AUTHORITIES EXPOSE ALLEGED UAE SPY NETWORK TARGETING DEFENCE INDUSTRY

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Wed 26 November 2025:

Turkish authorities have arrested three individuals from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) who were working as defence executives on allegations of espionage while a fourth suspect remains at large.

Three executives of defence companies in Türkiye have been arrested and detained on suspicion of spying for foreign powers, Istanbul’s Chief Prosecutor’s Office says.

The Prosecutor’s Office said in a statement on Tuesday: “An operation was carried out on 25 November 2025 to apprehend four individuals identified in connection with the conspiracy.

“As a result of the operation, three individuals were apprehended, and an arrest warrant was issued for one individual due to being abroad.”

The authorities brought forth allegations of collecting biographical information on foreign officials, and establishing contact with public institutions and representatives of other countries.

The investigation was conducted through a coordinated effort by Istanbul Police Department’s counterterrorism unit and the National Intelligence Organisation (MIT), whose purpose is to identify and disrupt espionage-related activities.

The original statement released by Turkish authorities on 25/11/2525 referencing the UAE (Birlesik Arap Emirlikleri)

The initial version of the Prosecutor’s statement alleged that the espionage activities were conducted on behalf of the UAE, claiming that Emirati intelligence officers had obtained a personal phone number of senior personnel in the defence industry and used fake online profiles to contact them.

The original statement also claimed that there were efforts to gather information about a phone used by officials connected to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and that one of the suspects had transported the phone line to the UAE to deliver it directly to intelligence operatives.

The details mentioned above were later removed by the Prosecutor’s Office, which deleted its initial statement from social media and omitted any reference to the UAE, the phone number, or fake profiles.

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Türkiye’s defence industry

Espionage experts and analysts have pointed out the significance of this, stating that the foiled espionage plot coincides with the rise of Türkiye’s defence industry in recent decades, along with its exports of drones dominating the global arms industry.

Türkiye’s defence exports grew by 29% in 2024, a growth of roughly $7.15 billion, according to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, driven primarily by the export and interest in its UAVs (Unmanned Aerial Vehicles, or drones).

TURKIYE – SEPTEMBER 26: Turkiye’s unmanned fighter jet developed by Baykar, conducting its first flight test. (BAYKAR – Anadolu Agency)

The new and revised statement from the Prosecutor’s Office said: “Based on information obtained from our security sources regarding the espionage investigation announced today, it has been understood that the suspects have no connection to the United Arab Emirates.”

The sudden and abrupt correction raises questions over why the initial claims were explicitly laid onto the UAE with such clarity and certainty.

Turkish-UAE ties

Foreign analysts seem to think that the correction comes at a time when Ankara has been attempting to repair rocky ties with Abu Dhabi that have long been under strain.

Türkiye and the UAE have had internal disagreements over issues including gas exploration in the eastern Mediterranean and have backed opposing sides in regional conflicts, such as Libya after the fall of Gaddafi and opposing interests in Syria under Bashar al-Assad.

ANKARA, TURKIYE – NOVEMBER 19: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan speaks during a press conference ( Utku Uçrak – Anadolu Agency )

However, in 2022, Erdoğan made his first visit to the UAE in nearly a decade to foster business ties and urge leaders to invest in Türkiye.

Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, also visited Türkiye on a diplomatic visit in July of this year.

The conflict in Sudan has also revived underlying tensions between the two countries, after the UAE are thought to be backing the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), accused of brutal massacres, whilst Türkiye has backed the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), providing Bayraktar TB2 drones.

By Alen Bašić

This article is republished from 5Pillars. Read the original article.