Electric seagliders enter the UAE market with a bang as REGENT unveils new JV

February 27, 2025, by Naida Hakirevic Prevljak

REGENT Craft, a US-based developer and manufacturer of all-electric seagliders, has signed an initial agreement with Strategic Development Fund (SDF), an Abu Dhabi-based investment company wholly owned by EDGE Group, to form a joint venture for manufacturing seagliders in the UAE.

Once all necessary approvals are received, the joint venture intends to produce electric seagliders and deliver them to the Middle East, Africa, and beyond while also providing aftermarket services, including maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO).

SDF initially invested in REGENT in 2023 and increased its stake in 2024 as negotiations for the UAE partnership progressed. After the JV is established, SDF plans to further invest in the company.

“SDF’s investment in REGENT Craft aligns with our commitment to focus on establishing strategic partnerships with key players in various industries to develop future-forward technologies. Our investments in critical sectors drive technological advancements and supports our goals to enhance the UAE’s industrial growth in strategic sectors,” Hamad Al Marar, EDGE Group Managing Director & CEO, commented.

“We strongly believe in REGENT Craft’s vision and groundbreaking technology. This initial agreement marks a significant step in our strategic hybrid investment approach — combining investments in international startups with strategic partnerships to contribute to the development of transformative technologies in the UAE,” Abdulla Al Jaabari, Managing Director & CEO of SDF, said.

“We are honored to deepen our collaboration with SDF and make Abu Dhabi and the UAE a center for seaglider manufacturing. This transformative potential partnership will usher in a new era of sustainable transportation technology,” Billy Thalheimer, Co-founder and CEO of REGENT Craft, said while speaking at a recent forum.

The agreement follows an April 2024 Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Abu Dhabi Investment Office and REGENT that aims to support the company’s development and manufacturing capabilities within Abu Dhabi’s Smart and Autonomous Vehicle Industry (SAVI) cluster.

“This agreement represents an important step forward in encouraging investment in advanced technologies, supporting innovation, and accelerating industrial development in Abu Dhabi. SDF and REGENT Craft’s partnership also advances the objectives of Abu Dhabi’s Smart and Autonomous Vehicle Industry (SAVI) cluster, solidifying the emirate’s position as a leader in sustainable, next-generation transportation solutions across air, land and sea,” Badr Al-Olama, Director General of ADIO, highlighted.

REGENT recently broke ground on a 255,000-square-foot seaglider manufacturing facility in Rhode Island, expected to come online in 2026.

REGENT breaks ground on ‘world’s first’ seaglider manufacturing facility

Business Developments & Projects

Seagliders are novel all-electric high-speed vessels that operate exclusively over water to connect coastal destinations for uses including passenger travel, cargo transport, offshore energy logistics, defense operations, and emergency response and aid.

The company projects the manufacturing and deployment of seagliders in the UAE have the potential to make significant contribution to the country’s annual GDP in the next decade by localizing the supply chain, creating high-value jobs, and increasing domestic tourism and spending.

Seagliders, which use existing dock infrastructure, are expected to enter into service in the UAE in 2027, and REGENT has been working with key stakeholders in the country to enable smooth integration into existing transportation networks.

The manufacturer has signed agreements with the Abu Dhabi Department of Municipalities and Transportation (DOT) to integrate seaglider service into the existing UAE transportation network and with Abu Dhabi Maritime to explore the feasibility of electric seagliders as a mode of transportation on Abu Dhabi waterways.

Furthermore, REGENT is working with Aramex, a global logistics and transportation solutions provider, to assess the feasibility of integrating REGENT’s high-speed seagliders into Aramex’s middle-mile logistics network.

The company is also collaborating with the UK-based maritime classification society Lloyd’s Register and the UAE Marine Transport Affairs Department to advance seaglider maritime certification in the country.