Air Forces comparison: 
United Arab Emirates vs 
Yemen
United Arab Emirates's air force fields 592 active aircraft — 3.8:1 Yemen's 156.
AIRS (Air Inventory Rating of Strength) Index face-off Full ranking →
United Arab EmiratesWorld #21
18.5
AIRS Index / 100
United Arab Emirates leads on 6 of 6 categories
YemenWorld #70
6.6
United Arab Emirates
Yemen
Bars: weighted contribution to the AIRS Index (airframes × category weight; combat and bombers by unit price, helicopters by era) · figures: active airframes at each side's latest inventory year · Methodology
Key figures as of 2026
| United Arab Emirates | Yemen | Ratio | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Official name | United Arab Emirates Air Force | Yemeni Air Force | |
| Active aircraft | 592 | 156 | 🇦🇪 3.8× |
| Aircraft on order | 267 | 0 | 🇦🇪 |
| Combat aircraft | 135 | 75 | 🇦🇪 1.8× |
| Combat share of fleet | 22.8 % | 48.1 % | 🇾🇪 2.1× |
| Aircraft types in service | 36 | 17 | 🇦🇪 2.1× |
| Main supplier | United States · 52 % | Ex-USSR · 60 % |
Show full breakdown · 5 more rowsHide the 5 extra rows
| Helicopters | 264 | 40 | 🇦🇪 6.6× |
| Transport aircraft | 55 | 13 | 🇦🇪 4.2× |
| Special-mission aircraft | 8 | 0 | 🇦🇪 |
| Trainers | 86 | 28 | 🇦🇪 3.1× |
| UAVs | 44 | 0 | 🇦🇪 |
Backbone aircraft most numerous in service
Fleet evolution · United Arab Emirates
Fleet evolution · Yemen
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Frequently Asked Questions
Which country has more military aircraft, United Arab Emirates or Yemen?
United Arab Emirates has more military aircraft with 592 active aircraft compared to Yemen's 156, a difference of 436 aircraft.
Which air force has more combat aircraft, United Arab Emirates or Yemen?
United Arab Emirates has more combat aircraft with 135 fighters and attack aircraft compared to Yemen's 75.
Which country has more military helicopters, United Arab Emirates or Yemen?
United Arab Emirates operates more military helicopters with 264 compared to Yemen's 40.
Which air force has more transport aircraft, United Arab Emirates or Yemen?
United Arab Emirates has more transport aircraft with 55 compared to Yemen's 13.
How do the United Arab Emirates and Yemen air forces compare in size?
United Arab Emirates's air force is 4.2 times larger than Yemen's in terms of total active aircraft (55 vs 13).
Which country has more aircraft on order, United Arab Emirates or Yemen?
United Arab Emirates has 267 aircraft on order compared to Yemen's 0.