US eases UAE export controls

13 July 2026

The US Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) has published a final rule giving the United Arab Emirates enhanced favourable treatment under the Export Administration Regulations (EAR). BIS said the change reflects the UAE's status as a US Major Defense Partner and its support for US national security interests, including Operation Epic Fury. The rule took effect on filing for public inspection on 10 July 2026 and appears in the Federal Register on 14 July 2026.

The rule makes 3 main changes:

• It removes the UAE from Country Groups D:3 (chemical and biological) and D:4 (missile technology). This lifts missile-related end-use restrictions under sections 744.3 and 744.6 of the EAR and makes further licence exceptions available, including TMP, GOV, TSU, AVS and APR.

• It adds the UAE to Country Group A:5. The UAE Government and approved commercial entities can now use License Exception Strategic Trade Authorization (STA) for military items, certain commercial satellites and spacecraft, and dual-use items used in oil and gas production, desalination and civil nuclear power.

• It creates a new supplement 8 to part 740 listing approved recipients. UAE government agencies, G42 and Core42 may receive advanced computing items licence-free. G42 and Core42 lose that status after 270 days unless they become US companies. Amazon, Apple, Google, Meta, Microsoft, OpenAI, Oracle and X.AI, and their UAE subsidiaries, are approved for both advanced computing items and STA.

Licence requirements for advanced computing items still apply to all other UAE recipients. Companies can request approval through a BIS advisory opinion.