Abu Dhabi Ship Building (ADSB) has marked three decades of shipbuilding excellence, highlighting its transformation from a naval maintenance provider into one of the Middle East’s leading designers and builders of advanced offshore patrol vessels and corvettes, as regional demand for sovereign maritime capabilities continues to expand.
The milestone anniversary was commemorated at ADSB’s Abu Dhabi shipyard, with senior officials from the UAE Navy, Kuwait Naval Forces, leadership from EDGE Group, and key regional and international partners in attendance. The event underscored ADSB’s growing role in delivering UAE-designed naval platforms for both domestic and export markets.
A central highlight of the ceremony was the launch of the first Al-Dorra-class 62-meter vessel, Al Noukhitha. The vessel is being delivered under a record-breaking regional contract to supply advanced missile boats to the Kuwait Ministry of Defence, representing the largest naval export program in the Middle East to date.
Founded in 1995, ADSB initially operated as a maintenance, repair, and overhaul provider for the UAE Navy before progressively expanding into full-scale shipbuilding. Over the years, the company delivered a range of increasingly complex platforms, including landing craft, the Baynunah-class corvettes, and its first export vessels for the Royal Navy of Oman.
Today, ADSB operates one of the region’s most advanced shipyards, spanning approximately 330,000 square meters and supported by a workforce of around 1,500 personnel. The facility enables the delivery of complex naval programs incorporating advanced combat systems, integrated mission architectures, and modern survivability features.
ADSB’s current project portfolio reflects its growing international credibility. In addition to the Al-Dorra program for Kuwait, the company is executing major shipbuilding contracts including 71-meter corvettes for the Angolan Navy, while also supporting the UAE Navy through the commissioning of the FALAJ 3 fleet.
As part of EDGE Group’s Platforms & Systems cluster, ADSB plays a central role in advancing the UAE’s naval defense industrial base, supporting localization objectives, and expanding high-value defense exports. Company leadership emphasized continued investment in in-house design authority, technology development, and advanced manufacturing as key pillars for future growth.
With its strongest order book to date and a growing pipeline across multiple continents, ADSB’s 30th anniversary not only marks a significant industrial milestone but also signals its ambition to shape the next generation of naval capability development across the Middle East and global markets.
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