At drone fair, Chinese show off armed model likely being used by UAE military

ABU DHABI – Walking through a trade show all about military drones, Emirati officials made a point on Sunday to stop first at a stand run by Chinese officials with a mock armed drone hanging above them. Defense analysts believe that drone, the Wing Loong II, is now being used by the Emirati military while the United Arab Emirates remains barred from purchasing weaponized drones from the United States. That purchase, as well as Abu Dhabi hosting the Unmanned Systems Exhibition & Conference this week in the Emirati capital, shows the power these weapons now hold across the Middle East. Top UAE officials, including Abu Dhabi's powerful crown prince, Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, were on hand for the drone conference, which opened on Sunday. The UAE, home to skyscraper-studded Dubai, already has embraced drones.