Investment company Strategic Development Fund (SDF), owned by EDGE Group, has signed an initial agreement with REGENT Craft, a US-based developer of electric seagliders. This step aligns with SDF's strategy of investing in startups and forming partnerships to promote transformative technologies in the UAE.
At the World Government Summit 2025, REGENT Craft's CEO, Billy Thalheimer, discussed plans to establish a seaglider manufacturing plant in Abu Dhabi. The collaboration with SDF aims to scale REGENT's manufacturing capabilities to meet the rising demand for seagliders in the region and beyond.
The agreement anticipates the creation of a joint venture to produce REGENT's electric seagliders in the UAE, serving markets in the Middle East and Africa. The partnership will also offer aftermarket services, including maintenance and repair.
The venture supports EDGE's and SDF's focus on advanced technologies in aerospace and aligns with Abu Dhabi's Smart and Autonomous Vehicle Industry (SAVI) cluster. Pending regulatory approvals, SDF plans to further invest in REGENT to strengthen their partnership.
REGENT is already constructing a seaglider manufacturing facility in Rhode Island and aims to introduce these vessels for various purposes such as passenger travel, cargo transport, and defense operations. The company projects significant contributions to the UAE's GDP by localizing the supply chain and creating high-value jobs, boosting domestic tourism.
By 2027, seagliders are expected to operate in the UAE, integrating into existing transportation networks. REGENT has collaborations with local authorities and logistics providers to facilitate the incorporation of seagliders into various sectors, ensuring smooth maritime certification processes in the country.
The partnership between SDF and REGENT follows an April 2024 agreement between REGENT and the Abu Dhabi Investment Office to bolster the company's manufacturing capabilities in Abu Dhabi's SAVI cluster. This move aims to drive industrial development and innovation in the emirate.
