Anxiety over Iran drives GCC arms imports

Gulf Co-operation Council (GCC) efforts to expand an already formidable arsenal of high-tech weaponry stepped up a notch in 2014 when, according to a study by respected defence specialist IHS Jane’s, Saudi Arabia overtook India to become the world’s largest importer of weapons and defence systems. Riyadh spent $6.4bn on defence imports in 2014, 54% more than the previous year, and more than all the other GCC states combined. According to the IHS Jane’s report published on 8 March, the UAE spent $2.2bn on defence imports in 2014, Oman and Kuwait each spent $1.1bn, and Qatar and Bahrain spent $573m and $73m respectively