The United Arab Emirates (UAE) Prime Minister, Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al-Maktoum, has said that the Gulf state will introduce mandatory military service for its nationals aged between 18 and 30.
"The service will cover military training in the armed forces, 9 months for high school graduates and two years for those less than high school," Xinhua quoted Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid on tweeter.
"UAE reserve forces will consist of retired armed forces' soldiers and national service program graduates," the UAE prime minister tweeted.
"Protecting the nation and preserving its independence and sovereignty is a sacred national duty. The new law will apply to everyone," tweeted Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid. The UAE has 8.8 million inhabitants of which only 20 percent are UAE nationals.
The UAE prime minister, who is also the country's vice president and ruler of Dubai, has ordered his cabinet to draw up a bill for national defence and reserves.
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