Al Minhad Air Base

Al Minhad Air Base is a military installation located approximately 24 km south of Dubai in the United Arab Emirates. It is owned by the Government of the United Arab Emirates and operated by the United Arab Emirates Air Force, under the control of its Central Air Command. The base is operational and serves as a critical hub for various international military operations.

Historically, Al Minhad Air Base has supported Coalition and ISAF partners in Afghanistan, including forces from Australia, the Netherlands, Canada, the United Kingdom, and New Zealand. Since 2008, the Australian Defence Force (ADF) has utilized Al Minhad as its primary transport and logistics hub in the Middle East, maintaining a facility named Camp Baird there. The ADF has deployed aircraft such as Boeing F/A-18F Super Hornets, Boeing E-7A Wedgetails, and Airbus KC-30As from the base as part of military interventions against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant.

British Armed Forces also maintain operations at Al Minhad. No. 906 Expeditionary Air Wing RAF was established at the base in January 2013, expanding the RAF's presence. The base was extensively used by the RAF during Operation Pitting, the UK's evacuation of Kabul in 2021, facilitating operations with Airbus KC2 Voyager, Boeing C-17A Globemaster, and Lockheed C-130J Hercules aircraft. In March 2024, a new permanent British Support Operations facility, Donnelly Lines, was opened at the air base, providing headquarters and accommodation.

Canada's forward logistics support facility, codenamed Camp Mirage, was widely believed to be located at Al Minhad Air Base from 2001 until its closure in 2010. The United States military has also relied on UAE bases for support during conflicts in the Gulf region and Iraq. The use of Al Minhad Air Base by foreign militaries is subject to a diplomatic agreement with the UAE government, which restricts the advertisement of the host nation or location of operations due to local sensitivities regarding foreign military presence.