EDGE Charts Course for Localised Defence Manufacturing in Morocco
A transformative partnership framework established at Marrakech Air Show 2026 positions the UAE defence conglomerate to support Morocco's sovereign industrial aspirations through regional production of advanced small arms and aeronautical propulsion systems.
EDGE has formalised a significant partnership framework with Morocco’s Administration of National Defence, the governmental body responsible for defence procurement for the Royal Armed Forces, through a Memorandum of Understanding signed during the prestigious Marrakech Air Show 2026.
The accord establishes a comprehensive structure designed to explore and develop local production opportunities for high-performance small arms and aeronautical engines throughout the Kingdom, accomplished through purposeful collaborations with Moroccan industrial enterprises. This initiative reflects EDGE’s strategic commitment to evolving customer relationships through partnerships that strengthen regional capabilities and supply chain resilience.
The framework embodies a philosophy of knowledge exchange and technology transfer, whereby EDGE brings its manufacturing expertise and production capacity closer to its clientele whilst simultaneously fostering the development of sovereign industrial ecosystems within partner nations. Through engagement with qualified local companies, the partnership strengthens through-life support mechanisms and contributes meaningfully to national industrial growth.
Hamad Al Marar, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of EDGE, articulated the significance of the collaboration: “Morocco is a key partner for EDGE in Africa, and this MoU puts our partnership-first approach into practice. Our model is built on knowledge exchange, local production, and technology transfer, creating mutually beneficial partnerships that grow national industry alongside our own. By working with Moroccan companies to localise production of mission-proven firearms and advanced aeronautical engines, we are helping to build an industrial backbone that meets the Kingdom’s defence requirements.”
CARACAL, an esteemed designer and manufacturer of high-performance small arms and small-calibre ammunition, and POWERTECH, which specialises in developing advanced aero engines and propulsion systems for unmanned and autonomous platforms, represent integral components of EDGE’s integrated defence manufacturing ecosystem based within the United Arab Emirates. This ecosystem has been engineered to deliver operational capability with considerable speed and scale, and through this partnership, its capabilities are being extended to partner nations pursuing the establishment of their own sovereign defence industrial foundations.
Source: WAM