| Study Period | 2019 - 2030 |
| Base Year For Estimation | 2024 |
| Forecast Data Period | 2025 - 2030 |
| Historical Data Period | 2019 - 2023 |
| CAGR | 5.00 % |
| Market Concentration | Medium |
Major Players
*Disclaimer: Major Players sorted in no particular order |
MEA Small UAV Market Analysis
The Middle-East And Africa Small UAV Market is expected to register a CAGR of greater than 5% during the forecast period.
- The onset of COVID-19 in 2020 led to a significant impact on the manufacturing of small UAVs owing to companies not being able to receive the required parts and components. Moreover, various governments around the world imposing lockdowns and other barriers led to disruptions in the free flow of goods and the supply chain. As the pandemic restrictions started to loosen, there has been an increase in the manufacturing of various small UAVs owing to manufacturers being able to receive the required parts and components.
- The commercial usage of small UAVs is gaining steady momentum, as multiple industries are working with drones as part of their daily/regular business functions. This is one of the major driving factors of the small UAV market in the Middle East and Africa.
- The relatively lower procurement and operational cost of small electric-powered unmanned aerial vehicles, when compared to that of manned aircraft (for tactical or commercial applications), is another factor propelling the growth of the market. The formulation of a regulatory framework that allows streamlined usage of drones in several countries is expected to open new market opportunities for drone usage in various applications.
MEA Small UAV Market Trends
The Military and Law Enforcement Segment is Expected to Experience the Highest Growth During the Forecast Period
- The military and law enforcement segment of the market is expected to register the highest CAGR during the forecast period. The military and law enforcement segment is driven by internal and external security threats, territorial disputes, and modernization initiatives undertaken by armed forces across the region.
- The ability of these small UAVs to aid in ISR missions, aerial surveillance, and tactical operations is likely to result in their increasing adoption during the forecast period. The military applications of small UAVs have become the primary use in the market studied. Increasing military expenditure remains to be the main driver of the market during the forecast period. Used as target decoys for combat missions, research and development, and supervision, small UAVs have become part and parcel of the military forces in the region.
- Such increasing applications, along with changing drone laws in the region, are likely to propel the growth of this segment during the forecast period.
Understand The Key Trends Shaping This Market
Download PDF
Israel to Dominate the Middle-East and African Small UAV Market During the Forecast Period
- Countries in the Middle East are facing territorial issues, as well as terror attacks, which have forced several countries in this region to enhance their aerial capabilities. There has been a steep rise in the use of drones in this region over the past five years due to their use in surveillance missions. However, the majority of the drones used or procured are large UAVs, like Hermes 450 and Hermes 900.
- Smaller drones are now gaining importance across the world. Israel developed Hero-30, which weighs less than 10 kg and can carry a one-pound warhead. It was developed by UVision Air Ltd. Israel's Air Force has been operating UAVs of varying sizes and applications for decades, mainly for intelligence-gathering. Currently, the Israeli military force is focusing on small drones manufactured by the likes of Israeli Aeronautics Ltd and the Chinese company DJI.
- Most of the off-the-shelf drones used are manufactured by DJI, with the most widely used model being the DJI Mavic. Rafael Advanced Defense Systems Ltd developed the Firefly, which weighs about 3 kg and is capable of carrying a warhead weighing up to 350 grams. Recently, the Israel Army showcased an interest in replacing its Chinese DJI drones with locally-made drones. This is primarily due to the difficulty faced in encoding Chinese drones, which prevents their use in highly classified activities.
- The IDF is accelerating its development and procurement programs for advanced small drones to meet its future operational needs. Thus, growing defense expenditure from the Israeli government and the rising adoption of small UAVs for military applications drive market growth.
Get Analysis on Important Geographic Markets
Download PDF
MEA Small UAV Industry Overview
The market is moderately fragmented in nature due to the presence of several players holding significant shares in the market. Some of the few prominent players in the Middle East and African small UAV market are Israel Aerospace Industries, Elbit Systems Ltd, DJI, Northrop Grumman Corporation, and Textron Inc. The growing commercial applications of small drones have led to new players entering the market. The manufacturers are introducing new UAV models to support commercial and military applications.
For instance, in December 2022, DJI launched a drone for photography applications, DJI Mini 3, a compact, ultra-lightweight camera drone weighing less than 249 grams. In addition, the UAV manufacturing companies are collaborating with the service providers to further increase the drone-based services in this region. In previous years, Eniverse Technologies, Fetchr, and Skycart entered a partnership to develop an autonomous drone delivery service in the Middle East. Such initiatives by the UAV companies may help in garnering collective investments in new technologies, thus propelling the growth of the market.
MEA Small UAV Market Leaders
-
Israel Aerospace Industries
-
Elbit Systems
-
DJI
-
Northrop Grumman Corporation
-
Textron Systems
- *Disclaimer: Major Players sorted in no particular order
Need More Details on Market Players and Competiters?
Download PDF
MEA Small UAV Market News
- October 2021: Israeli defense company Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) signed a cooperation agreement with Romanian defense company IAR-Brasov to offer advanced UAV solutions. This agreement will allow the two companies to collaborate on the development and production of unmanned aerial vehicles.
- November 2022: A UAE government entity ordered a fleet of smart drones from Airobotics that will be deployed in urban environments. The drones will be part of an Urban Drone Infrastructure designed to support law enforcement and homeland security activities, as well as streamline diverse municipal services. The deployment of these drones is expected to significantly reduce the response times of security and rescue forces during emergencies.
MEA Small UAV Industry Segmentation
The small UAV class is an unmanned aerial vehicle small enough to be man-portable. The maximum gross takeoff weight of small UAVs is less than equal to 20 lbs.
The report is segmented by type and application. By type, the market is segmented into fixed-wing and rotary-wing. By application, the market is segmented into military and law enforcement, and civil and commercial. By country, the market is segmented into Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Israel, and the Rest of the Middle East and Africa.
The report offers the market size and forecasts by value (USD Million) for all the above segments.
| Type | Fixed-wing |
| Rotary-wing | |
| Application | Military and Law Enforcement |
| Civil and Commercial | |
| Geography | Saudi Arabia |
| United Arab Emirates | |
| Israel | |
| Rest of Middle-East and Africa |
Need A Different Region or Segment?
Customize Now
MEA Small UAV Market Research FAQs
What is the current Middle-East And Africa Small UAV Market size?
The Middle-East And Africa Small UAV Market is projected to register a CAGR of greater than 5% during the forecast period (2025-2030)
Who are the key players in Middle-East And Africa Small UAV Market?
Israel Aerospace Industries, Elbit Systems, DJI, Northrop Grumman Corporation and Textron Systems are the major companies operating in the Middle-East And Africa Small UAV Market.
What years does this Middle-East And Africa Small UAV Market cover?
The report covers the Middle-East And Africa Small UAV Market historical market size for years: 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024. The report also forecasts the Middle-East And Africa Small UAV Market size for years: 2025, 2026, 2027, 2028, 2029 and 2030.
Our Best Selling Reports
MEA Small UAV Industry Report
Statistics for the 2025 Middle-East And Africa Small UAV market share, size and revenue growth rate, created by Mordor Intelligenceā¢ Industry Reports. Middle-East And Africa Small UAV analysis includes a market forecast outlook for 2025 to 2030 and historical overview. Get a sample of this industry analysis as a free report PDF download.
