Turkey has dismantled a United Arab Emirates espionage network operating inside the country, carrying out unprecedented arrests of “agents” who allegedly had access to critical sectors.
According to Turkish authorities, the network was acting under the direction of UAE intelligence services and is believed to have collected information on senior figures in Turkey’s defense industry, employees of the Foreign Ministry, and foreign diplomats based in Turkey.
The operation was conducted by the National Intelligence Organization (MIT) and Istanbul Security Directorate, resulting in three arrests and an arrest warrant for another suspect who fled abroad.
The network consisted of a four-person core cell that, according to investigators, did not include UAE citizens. Among them were Turkish, Iranian, Somali, and Syrian nationals acting as “field agents,” who stayed in contact with each other and the UAE through specially purchased phone lines.
Mission of the network
Its objective was to collect CVs and personal data of individuals in key positions within Turkey’s defense sector, approach foreign diplomats in the country, and map critical infrastructure and services.
How the network operated
Its methods were mainly digital, discreet, and anonymity-based.
They purchased Turkish SIM cards, handed them over to UAE intelligence, and used the same lines for internal communication.
They created fake social media profiles to approach targeted officials as “innocent users,” sending simple greeting messages to establish contact, then attempting to extract personal details and official information.
At the same time, they mapped buildings, locations, and infrastructure, feeding all collected data into digital analysis systems.
Members lived in different locations to prevent the entire network from collapsing if one agent was compromised.
Targets identified
According to Turkey:
- the defense industry (engineers, executives, programs),
- the Foreign Ministry (communication channels, personnel),
- foreign diplomats (possibly for international leverage).
Why the case is considered critical
It coincides with renewed activity around the “Peace Route” project involving Israel, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, and potential alternative corridors proposed by Turkey and France. Ankara believes the UAE has intensified covert operations inside Turkey as a result.
Murat Emir, an MP from the main opposition CHP, sharply criticized the government, saying it had “nurtured” this situation:
“When the president undermines state credibility by promoting Kanal Istanbul to Arab media and seeking funding across the Gulf accompanied by SADAT figures, it’s no surprise that UAE intelligence infiltrates the defense industry, the Foreign Ministry’s communication lines, and critical state positions. This government, which hands over the country’s land and secrets with equal ease, has left Turkey defenseless — economically and in terms of security. This is not governance; it turns the country into an open target.”
The Turkish Prosecutor’s Office has not clarified what precise UAE operational plans the collected information would serve, only that it was intended for UAE intelligence services.
However, the focus on Turkey’s defense industry and diplomatic corps suggests the interest was military and geopolitical.
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