Caracal International

Caracal F, full size pistol, service pistol made in United Arab Emirates, 9×19mm, standard sights.

CAR 816 assault rifle

In 2002, a team of European weapons designers and experts working in conjunction with the United Arab Emirates Armed Forces started the development of a range of modern pistols and accessories.

By the end of 2006, Caracal International L.L.C. was incorporated and registered as a company in Abu Dhabi. With that, the foundation of a pistol manufacturing industry was established for the first time in the GCC.

In 2007, Tawazun Holdings acquired the assets of Caracal International.[1] In the same year Caracal announced that their pistols are to be made in Germany by using Merkel facilities in the country under a deal made between the two companies.[2][3]

Beginning of 2012, Caracal International opened a subsidiary in the United States as Caracal USA, based in Trussville, Alabama.[4] In September 2013, Caracal International announced a recall of all C model pistols. The recall states that the pistols cannot be made safe and will not be returned. Caracal stated that a refund will be made to its customers.[5][6]

In October 2013, the original Caracal pistol line was delisted by the manufacturer. The original model line was replaced by the CP660, CP661 and CP662 models as they are very similar to the original Caracal F, C and SC pistol models, but feature redesigned slides.[7][8][9]

In 2013, the CAR 816 was shown at IDEX 2013 to defense officials.[10] The rifle is the primary infantry assault rifle of the United Arab Emirates Armed Forces. [11]

In 2015, the Caracal 1911 and the CAR814/816 assault rifles were made available to the public, the former appearing first at IDEX 2015.[12]