ADSB Celebrates 30 Years Of UAE Shipbuilding Excellence And Regional Leadership In Naval Exports

Abu Dhabi Ship Building has marked three decades in advanced naval shipbuilding with a major event at its Abu Dhabi shipyard, where officials highlighted new export milestones and the launch of a key vessel for Kuwait, underlining ADSB’s growing role in regional and international maritime defence projects.

The 30th anniversary celebration brought together senior representatives from the UAE Navy, Kuwait Naval Forces, EDGE Group leadership, strategic partners, and regional dignitaries, reflecting how ADSB’s work now links several Gulf defence customers and showcases UAE-developed naval technology within wider Middle East security cooperation.

A central moment at the ceremony was the launch of AL NOUKHITHA, the first 62-metre Al-Dorra-class vessel, delivered under a record subcontract from EDGE Group to supply advanced missile boats for the Kuwait Ministry of Defence, a deal described as the largest naval export in the region’s history.

The anniversary comes as ADSB delivers the region’s largest naval export contracts and expands a portfolio of UAE-designed ships, while operating what the company describes as one of the most sophisticated shipyards in the Middle East, supporting customers both within the Gulf and in other international markets.

Today, Abu Dhabi Ship Building manages a shipyard covering about 330,000 square metres in Abu Dhabi, staffed by roughly 1,500 personnel, and delivers complex naval programmes to clients across the Middle East and beyond, including new-build vessels, support services, and technology-led upgrades.

ADSB has recently signed several large contracts that it describes as the most extensive and technically demanding in its history, among them a programme to build a fleet of 71-metre corvettes for the Angolan Navy, adding to earlier regional work and widening its customer base in Africa.

Abu Dhabi Ship Building history, achievements and leadership views

Established in 1995, Abu Dhabi Ship Building initially focused on maintenance, repair, and overhaul for the UAE Navy, then gradually moved into full shipbuilding, from its first landing craft delivered in 2001 to the Baynunah corvette programme and an early export contract with the Royal Navy of Oman.

Khaled Al Zaabi, Chairman of ADSB, said, "ADSB represents one of the UAE's greatest industrial achievements. Established just 25 years into the foundation of our nation, ADSB now competes and delivers at the highest level on the global stage," and highlighted how national support shaped the company’s trajectory.

He added, "The growth we have witnessed over the past few years has been extraordinary – record revenues, landmark international contracts, and the commissioning of ships designed and built entirely in the UAE. This is a story of national vision and unwavering support from the UAE’s leadership to building sovereign capabilities that will serve our nation for generations to come."

David Massey, CEO of ADSB, said, "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. We are better positioned than ever to continue building on what is shaping up to be a truly remarkable chapter for ADSB."

Alongside the Angolan corvette deal, the commissioning of the first vessel in the FALAJ 3 fleet into the UAE Navy is presented by ADSB as further evidence of its capability and standing as a trusted partner to naval forces worldwide, aligning with the company’s 30-year record of regional and export delivery.

With inputs from WAM