Idex 2019: How an Emirati small arms firm went global

Caracal's weapons are built to withstand the pressures of heat, dust and sand

Sheikh Hazza bin Zayed, Deputy Chairman of Abu Dhabi Executive Council, inspects the CSR 50 sniper rifle with EDIC's business development director Hamad Al Ameri. Victor Besa / The National

It started out as a small arms manufacturer, supplying 9mm pistols for UAE law enforcement and hunting rifles for civilians.

Today, Caracal, now a subsidiary of Emirates Defence Industries Company, has become an altogether different force - and one generating hundreds of jobs for Emiratis.

The company - a major retailer around the globe - recently signed weapons deals with Malaysia, India and South Korea.

It is also already supplying the German military with firearms, taking the group’s overseas sales to more than 25 per cent of its total.

“Our products have been well received by the international community and we’re very proud of our international presence in Germany, USA, and Algeria," said Hamad Al Ameri, business development director at EDIC.

Caracal, which takes its name from the desert hunting cat, was established in 2007 and developed a strong reputation for producing side arms, close combat assault weapons and sniper rifles.

The Carcal rifle range. Victor Besa / The National

Headquartered in Abu Dhabi, it soon became the region’s leading small arms company, producing quality products to internationally recognised standards.

In 2015 it was acquired by EDIC as part of a drive to combine the UAE’s defence industries into a single organisation.

The merger, which included a number of other defence manufacturers, took EDIC’s payroll in the UAE close to 5,000 employees.

Today, EDIC Caracal’s portfolio includes combat pistols, a 9mm submachine gun, three tactical rifle platforms and varying sniper rifles.

At the company’s core is its immense pride in being a wholly Emirati entity – its weapons being almost entirely built and even designed by UAE nationals.

“It’s been a challenge but we succeeded and we couldn’t be more proud,” said Mr Al Ameri.

Hamad Al Ameri, business development director at EDIC. Victor Besa / The National

“We’ve fused systems that have been around for 30 years and improved them. Quality, durability, price - these are the reasons our products are superior.

“We’ve produced the best designs with a durability that can survive our weather, considered one of the harshest in the world.”

Hamda Al Falasi, a senior procurement officer at the company, perhaps best exemplifies the firm's enormous pride in its work.

The 32-year-old, who joined the firm in 2013, commutes for more than two hours a day to the UAE's capital.

“I first heard about the job from a friend and when I applied I didn’t even know the company was in the defence sector,” she said.

“What amazed me was that everything was made in the UAE – that really caught my attention.

“It still gives me such a huge sense of pride. I am not just saying this, but I love it.”

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Idex 2019: Military might - in pictures

Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces and Sheikh Mohamed bin Rashid, Vice-President, Prime Minister of the UAE, Ruler of Dubai and Minister of Defence, attend the opening ceremony of Idex. Mohamed Al Hammadi / Ministry of Presidential Affairs

Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed speaks with an exhibitor during a tour of Idex. Ryan Carter / Ministry of Presidential Affairs

Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed visits the Halcon Systems stand at Idex. Rashed Al Mansoori / Ministry of Presidential Affairs

Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed speaks with a representative. Ryan Carter / Ministry of Presidential Affairs

Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed and Sheikh Mohamed bin Rashid tour the exhibits. Mohamed Al Hammadi / Ministry of Presidential Affairs

Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed tours the exhibition with Major General Essa Saif Al Mazrouei, Deputy Chief of Staff of the UAE Armed Forces. Rashed Al Mansoori / Ministry of Presidential Affairs

Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed visits NAVAL Group stand. Rashed Al Mansoori / Ministry of Presidential Affairs

Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, Crown Prince of Dubai, Ibrahima Kassory Fofana, Prime Minister of Guinea, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice-President and Ruler of Dubai, Sheikh Hasina, Prime Minister of Bangladesh, Sheikh Ammar bin Humaid Al Nuaimi, Crown Prince of Ajman, Rustam Minnikhanov, President of Tatarstan, Sheikh Rashid bin Saud bin Rashid Al Mu'alla, Crown Prince of Umm Al Quwain and Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed, Ruler’s Representative in Al Dhafra Region, attend the opening ceremony. Mohamed Al Hammadi/Ministry of Presidential Affairs

Members of the UAE Military band, members of the Abu Dhabi Police band and members of the Armenian Military Orchestra, perform during the opening ceremony. Mohamed Al Hammadi/Ministry of Presidential Affairs

Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, Ibrahima Kassory Fofana, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, and Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid attend the opening ceremony. Mohamed Al Hammadi/Ministry of Presidential Affairs

A mock battle at Idex 2019 in Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National

A mock battle at Idex 2019 in Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National

A mock battle at Idex 2019 in Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National

A mock battle at Idex 2019 in Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National

A mock battle at Idex 2019 in Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National

Flyby after the UAE national anthem at Idex 2019. Victor Besa / The National

The Abu Dhabi Marching Band during the opening ceremony at Idex 2019. Victor Besa / The National

Flyby after the UAE national anthem at Idex 2019. Victor Besa / The National

Visitors arrive for day one of Idex. Victor Besa/The National

A Caracal Stand with the CAR series assault rifle. Victor Besa/The National

An Idex visitor checks out the AW149 Multi-Mission Performance helicopter. Victor Besa/The National

The Horizon, an early warning Infra-Red (MWIR) thermal imaging camera. Victor Besa/The National

The OPTIO X20 UGV, unmanned ground vehicle with a remote 20mm and 50mm canon. Victor Besa/The National

The Leclerc Tank. Victor Besa/The National

The Chinese made Blowfish A2 helicopter drone. Victor Besa/The National

The Norinco 100kg Laser/ GPS Dual-Mode Guided Bomb. Victor Besa/The National

Munitions by Mecar, Nexter Munitions and Simmel Difesa. Victor Besa/The National

An Idex visitor takes a photo of the AR3 Guided Multiple Rocket System. Victor Besa/The National

A mock battle at Idex 2019 in Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National

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Naser Al Omaira, 46, joined EDIC Caracal to manage its special projects department, where he has been working for almost six years.

He described realising he had a passion for weapons from a very early age, due in part to the tradition of hunting birds such as the Houbara bustard in the UAE.

“I joined Caracal because I’m passionate about design and weapons,” said Mr Al Omaira.

“Hunting is part of our culture. We were taught how to hunt as we were brought up and ever since I was little I’ve always enjoyed inventing things.

“Designing something and then seeing it come to life is a passion. Any designer will tell you that. And through Caracal I was able to achieve this.”

“I have no favourite weapon here but I suppose lean towards the sniper rifles because of the challenges involved in acquiring and hitting long distance targets.

“With all our products, we try to design them slightly different so they can withstand harsh environments and that’s why they’re a little superior.”

Among Caracal’s products is its 9mm semi-automatic pistol, carrying a high-capacity 18 round magazine.

It also manufacturers three sniper rifles, including the CSR 308, a manually operated bolt action weapon made from “aerospace grade aluminium”. It uses a 7.62mm round.

“There is a huge industrial revolution happening in the UAE and today we have raw materials that we could never have dreamed of a few years back,” said Mr Al Ameri.

“We can produce everything here.”