The United Arab Emirates has officially published the three conditions that all prospective recruits must meet to join the Emirati military, according to the UAE government's official website. The requirements, which apply to national service recruitment, are UAE citizenship, age limits that differ by gender, and medical fitness.
Official Conditions for UAE National Service
The UAE government stated that the following conditions shall be met for those recruited for national service:
- Must be a UAE citizen
- Must be 18 years old and not have exceeded 30 years for males and 35 years for females
- Must be medically fit
The website reads: "The following conditions shall be met for those who are recruited for National Service: A UAE citizen. Eighteen years old and not exceeded thirty years for males and thirty-five years for females. To be medically fit."
Age Limits Differ by Gender
One notable aspect of the requirements is the distinction made between male and female applicants regarding the upper age limit. Male candidates must not be older than 30 at the time of recruitment, while female candidates are permitted to apply up to the age of 35. Both groups, however, must be at least 18 years old to be eligible.
The requirement for UAE citizenship means the military's national service recruitment is exclusively open to Emirati nationals, excluding expatriates and foreign residents regardless of how long they may have lived in the country. Medical fitness rounds out the three conditions as a non-negotiable threshold that all applicants must clear before being accepted into service.
Penalties for Skipping Enlistment
Meanwhile, Legit.ng recently reported that the UAE government had announced the penalties citizens could face for failing to enlist in the national military without a valid reason. Under the country's military service rules, eligible citizens who fail to enlist before turning 29 could face a jail term of one month to one year, a fine ranging from AED 10,000 to AED 50,000, or both.
