Air Forces comparison: 
United Arab Emirates vs 
Qatar
United Arab Emirates's air force fields 592 active aircraft — 2.1:1 Qatar's 283.
AIRS (Air Inventory Rating of Strength) Index face-off Full ranking →
United Arab EmiratesWorld #17
19.8
AIRS Index / 100
United Arab Emirates leads on 5 of 6 categories
QatarWorld #22
15.6
United Arab Emirates
Qatar
Bars: weighted contribution to the AIRS Index (airframes × category weight; combat and bombers by generation tier, helicopters by era; the enabler, armament and availability multipliers apply on top) · figures: active airframes at each side's latest inventory year · Methodology
Key figures as of 2026
| United Arab Emirates | Qatar | Ratio | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Official name | United Arab Emirates Air Force | Qatar Emiri Air Force | |
| Active aircraft | 592 | 283 | 🇦🇪 2.1× |
| Aircraft on order | 277 | 44 | 🇦🇪 6.3× |
| Combat aircraft | 135 | 126 | 🇦🇪 1.1× |
| Combat share of fleet | 22.8 % | 44.5 % | 🇶🇦 2.0× |
| Aircraft types in service | 36 | 19 | 🇦🇪 1.9× |
| Main supplier | United States · 52 % | France · 34 % |
Show full breakdown · 5 more rowsHide the 5 extra rows
| Helicopters | 264 | 86 | 🇦🇪 3.1× |
| Transport aircraft | 55 | 12 | 🇦🇪 4.6× |
| Special-mission aircraft | 8 | 0 | 🇦🇪 |
| Trainers | 86 | 53 | 🇦🇪 1.6× |
| UAVs | 44 | 6 | 🇦🇪 7.3× |
Backbone aircraft most numerous in service
Fleet evolution · United Arab Emirates
Fleet evolution · Qatar
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Frequently Asked Questions
Which country has more military aircraft, United Arab Emirates or Qatar?
United Arab Emirates has more military aircraft with 592 active aircraft compared to Qatar's 283, a difference of 309 aircraft.
Which air force has more combat aircraft, United Arab Emirates or Qatar?
United Arab Emirates has more combat aircraft with 135 fighters and attack aircraft compared to Qatar's 126.
Which country has more military helicopters, United Arab Emirates or Qatar?
United Arab Emirates operates more military helicopters with 264 compared to Qatar's 86.
Which air force has more transport aircraft, United Arab Emirates or Qatar?
United Arab Emirates has more transport aircraft with 55 compared to Qatar's 12.
How do the United Arab Emirates and Qatar air forces compare in size?
United Arab Emirates's air force is 4.6 times larger than Qatar's in terms of total active aircraft (55 vs 12).
Which country has more aircraft on order, United Arab Emirates or Qatar?
United Arab Emirates has 277 aircraft on order compared to Qatar's 44.