Abu Dhabi Ship Building (ADSB) has launched the first Al-Dorra-class offshore patrol vessel, AL NOUKHITHA, being built for the Kuwait Ministry of Defense.
The 62-meter vessel is the first unit to be delivered under a contract subcontracted by EDGE Group to supply advanced missile boats to Kuwait, a deal described as the largest naval export contract in the Middle East to date.
The launch ceremony took place at ADSB’s shipyard in Abu Dhabi and was attended by senior officials from the UAE Navy and Kuwait Naval Forces, EDGE Group leadership, industry partners and regional dignitaries.
The Al-Dorra-class vessels are designed to provide enhanced maritime security and operational flexibility, reflecting ADSB’s growing capabilities in the design and construction of sophisticated offshore patrol vessels and corvettes.
Khaled Al Zaabi , Chairman of ADSB, said the program demonstrates the company’s ability to compete at the highest international level and deliver complex naval platforms entirely designed and built in the UAE. He highlighted recent growth driven by major international contracts, expanding revenues and the delivery of increasingly advanced warships.
The launch of AL NOUKHITHA coincided with ADSB marking three decades since its establishment in 1995, a period during which the company has evolved from a naval maintenance provider into one of the Middle East’s most advanced naval shipbuilders.
The company has recently secured several landmark contracts, including a fleet of 71-meter corvettes for the Angolan Navy.
Combined with the recent commissioning of the first of the FALAJ 3 fleet into the UAE Navy, these programs demonstrate ADSB’s capability and growing reputation as a trusted partner to naval forces around the world.
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“When I joined six years ago, ADSB was an organisation with a rich history and a very exciting future ahead of it. What has unfolded since then has exceeded our expectations. With the strongest order book in our history and a growing pipeline spanning multiple continents, we are now also developing our own naval platforms through our dedicated technology office, marking a new era for ADSB,” David Massey , CEO of ADSB, commented.