If UAE is short of engineering and vanity projects, how about digging a two way channel from Dubai to Oman for very large ships. Might involve boring a 100m diameter tunnel through a mountain range, or two.

If you have 200 of drones in air, a F-35 can reduce the amount to perhaps 196 with cost of $12,000,000.

It's easier and cheaper to let them fly near the target and then let radar controlled AA autocannons and short range missiles take them down. A few of them might break up enroute if you let them fly further.