US Marines and United Arab Emirates (UAE) Presidential Guard soldiers completed a three-day bilateral Military Operations on Urban Terrain (MOUT) exercise during Exercise Intrepid Maven 25.2.

The February training in the UAE emphasized the vital need to master urban combat capabilities in response to evolving global threats, as forces must operate effectively in any environment, whether remote, densely wooded, or highly populated.

US Marine Corps Forces Central Command (MARCENT) oversaw the exercise, bringing together US Marines and the UAE's elite Presidential Guard in full-scale urban warfare drills.

The training enhanced interoperability and combat readiness while highlighting both nations' shared commitment to regional peace and stability.

The exercise leveraged advanced technology and immersive training environments with realistic scenarios that effectively replicated the high-pressure realities of urban combat.

Platoon- and squad-level forces conducted medical exercises and live-fire drills while practicing coordinated sweeps and tactical navigation through maze-like urban environments.

Tall buildings and urban congestion amplified operational complexity, creating challenging conditions that tested personnel's attention and decision-making capabilities under extreme duress.

Through these scenarios, US Marines and UAE Presidential Guard soldiers refined critical communication protocols, enhanced cooperative skills under pressure, and aligned command structures.

The exercises emphasized synchronized movement, coordinated firepower, and heightened situational awareness -- key components of modern urban combat operations that are essential for addressing contemporary security challenges.

Enduring partnership

Intrepid Maven 25.2 represents one chapter in the longstanding US-UAE military partnership that fosters Middle East stability and contributes to global security.

The UAE Presidential Guard, formed in 2011 through a merger of the Amiri Guard, Special Operations Command, and Marine Battalion from the UAE Navy, serves as the premier fighting force of the UAE Armed Forces.

Since its inception, US Marines have been central to the Guard's training and operational readiness through the Marine Corps Training Mission UAE (MCTM-UAE), forging a powerful military partnership aimed at ensuring regional peace and stability.

The bilateral MOUT training reinforces this collaboration, enhancing tactical coordination, strategic readiness, and combined deterrence capabilities while benefiting both nations and their regional allies.