**Abu Dhabi**: REGENT Craft has entered a preliminary agreement with Abu Dhabi’s Strategic Development Fund to establish a joint venture for manufacturing electric seagliders in the UAE, enhancing local industrial growth and aligning with the emirate’s push for advanced technology in transportation by 2027.
REGENT Craft, a Rhode Island-based manufacturer of electric seagliders, has signed a preliminary agreement with the Abu Dhabi-based Strategic Development Fund (SDF) to establish a joint venture aimed at manufacturing these advanced vessels in the UAE. This agreement comes after SDF’s initial investment in REGENT in 2023, which was increased in 2024 as negotiations progressed. The venture is contingent upon completing closing conditions and receiving necessary regulatory approvals.
The initiative aligns with both EDGE Group, which wholly owns SDF, and Abu Dhabi’s strategic push towards advanced technologies in sectors like aerospace. The partnership aims to bolster the UAE’s industrial ecosystem while also enhancing supply chain capabilities in critical sectors. Through this venture, REGENT plans to cater to the growing demand for seagliders across the Middle East and Africa.
Hamad Al Marar, Managing Director and CEO of EDGE Group, emphasised the importance of forming strategic partnerships with leading industry players to promote technological growth within the UAE. Abdulla Al Jaabari, Managing Director & CEO of SDF, described the move as a significant step towards developing transformative technologies in the UAE, highlighting SDF’s hybrid investment approach of aligning with innovative international firms.
During the recent World Government Summit 2025, Billy Thalheimer, Co-founder and CEO of REGENT Craft, reaffirmed the company’s commitment to establishing a manufacturing plant in Abu Dhabi. He stated that this partnership could herald a new era in sustainable transport technology.
The agreement follows a memorandum of understanding signed in April 2024 between REGENT and the Abu Dhabi Investment Office. This earlier pact aimed to support REGENT’s manufacturing capabilities within the emirate’s Smart and Autonomous Vehicle Industry cluster.
His Excellency Badr Al-Olama, Director General of the Abu Dhabi Investment Office, noted that this partnership represents a crucial advancement in encouraging investment in innovation and industrial development within the region.
REGENT aims to enhance its manufacturing capabilities and aftermarket services through this collaboration, anticipating that the seaglider project could contribute significantly to the UAE’s GDP over the next decade. The seaglider, an all-electric craft designed to operate over water, is poised to be integrated into existing transportation networks and aims to commence services in the UAE by 2027. REGENT has also engaged with local regulatory and transport authorities to ensure smooth integration into the country’s maritime transport system.
The seagliders are expected to link coastal destinations, facilitating not only passenger travel but also cargo transport and emergency logistics. With the construction of its 255,000-square-foot manufacturing facility in Rhode Island set to conclude in 2026, REGENT is well-positioned to leverage this strategic partnership for significant growth in the rapidly evolving transportation sector.
Source: Noah Wire Services
- https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2025/02/26/3033183/0/en/REGENT-Signs-Initial-Agreement-with-Strategic-Development-Fund-to-Set-Up-a-Joint-Venture-for-Seaglider-Manufacturing-and-Services-in-the-UAE.html – This URL supports the claim that REGENT Craft signed a preliminary agreement with the Strategic Development Fund to establish a joint venture for manufacturing seagliders in the UAE. It also details the strategic alignment with EDGE Group and Abu Dhabi’s push for advanced technologies.
- https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/c918af90-dcb7-4821-8207-07828b6aea9c – This URL provides additional context to the agreement between REGENT Craft and the Strategic Development Fund, highlighting the establishment of a joint venture for seaglider manufacturing and services in the UAE.
- https://www.edgegroup.ae/en/about-us – This URL provides background information on EDGE Group, which wholly owns the Strategic Development Fund, supporting the context of their strategic partnerships and technological advancements in the UAE.
- https://www.adio.ae/en/sectors/smart-autonomous-vehicle-industry – This URL supports the mention of the Smart and Autonomous Vehicle Industry cluster in Abu Dhabi, where REGENT aims to enhance its manufacturing capabilities through the partnership with the Abu Dhabi Investment Office.
- https://www.regentcraft.com/ – This URL provides information about REGENT Craft, including its role as a developer and manufacturer of all-electric seagliders, supporting the claims about their technology and expansion plans.
- https://www.adio.ae/en/news/ADIO-News – This URL could potentially provide updates or news related to the Abu Dhabi Investment Office’s initiatives and partnerships, including those with REGENT Craft, though specific articles may not be directly available.
- https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2025/02/26/3033183/0/en/REGENT-Signs-Initial-Agreement-with-Strategic-Development-Fund-to-Set-Up-a-Joint-Venture-for-Seaglider-Manufacturing-and-Services-in-the-UAE.html – Original press release. View link for all data
Noah Fact Check Pro
The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first
emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may
warrant further investigation.
Freshness check
Score:
10
Notes:
The narrative is very recent, dated February 2025, and references ongoing developments and future plans, indicating it is current and not recycled.
Quotes check
Score:
8
Notes:
Quotes from key figures like Hamad Al Marar and Abdulla Al Jaabari are included, but their earliest online references could not be verified. However, they appear to be original to this context.
Source reliability
Score:
9
Notes:
The narrative originates from a press release on GlobeNewswire, which is a reputable platform for business news. However, press releases are typically promotional.
Plausability check
Score:
9
Notes:
The claims about establishing a joint venture and manufacturing seagliders in the UAE are plausible given the context of strategic partnerships and technological advancements in the region.
Overall assessment
Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): PASS
Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): HIGH
Summary:
The narrative is fresh, with recent developments and future plans. Quotes appear original, and the source is reliable as a press release. The claims are plausible within the context of technological advancements and strategic partnerships in the UAE.
