SOUTH Africa and the United Arab Emirates signed a defence cooperation accord on Thursday at the Dubai air show, to work to boost arms sales and co-operate in military training and joint exercises. The accord, which took three years to negotiate, was signed by Emirati armed forces chief of staff Lieutenant General Sheikh Mohammad bin Zayed al-Nahayan, and South African Defence Minister Mosiuoa Lekota. South Africa, a leading supplier of artillery to the oil-rich Gulf, displayed its Seeker observation drones and long-range missiles at the five-day show in Dubai.