Abu Dhabi Ship Building (ADSB), part of Edge Group in the UAE, made a return trip to IMDEX, Singapore’s biennial naval exhibition that was held this year from 6-8 May. Its presence at IMDEX reinforces the company’s desire to expand its footprint in the Asian market.
David Massey, CEO of ADSB, told Asian Military Review that its strongest connection with the region is currently via cooperation with Singaporean shipbuilder ST Engineering. The latter provided the design for the Falaj 3 offshore patrol vessel (OPV), of which ADSB is constructing four for the UAE Navy.
The UAE Ministry of Defence awarded this approximately US$950 million OPV contract in May 2021, and ADSB subcontracted ST Engineering for the class’s basic, detailed and production design, as well as technical support for construction.
ADSB is keen to move forward with other such cooperative projects in Asia. ADSB also has a more limited relationship with PT PAL of Indonesia, and is supplying some components and building landing craft for the 163m-long landing platform dock that the Indonesian shipbuilder is constructing for the UAE Navy. This large vessel is due to be delivered to the Emirati authorities by the end of 2027.
In July this year, ADSB will celebrate its 30th anniversary. The shipbuilder based in Mussafah has around 1,400 personnel. Massey explained that ADSB has built more than 250 boats and ships at its 330,000m² facility since it was established.
Massey noted, “So in terms of the order book, it’s currently very healthy; we have an order book of about US$2 billion.” Its main customers include the UAE Navy obviously, but ADSB is also currently constructing three 71m-long BR 71 MkII corvettes for Angola. It is also refurbishing 21 boats belonging to the Kuwaiti Coast Guard.
The CEO added, “We are profitable, which is unusual for a shipbuilder. Last year we made US$23 million, and we’ve doubled our profits every year for the last three years.” Furthermore, ADSB’s revenue has risen sixfold in the past five years, “and will continue to rise but not at quite the same exponential rate”.
Part of the reason for this spectacular growth is that ABDS is now developing its own product range and intellectual property. Whereas once it worked with more experienced partners and built to their designs, it is now developing proprietary platforms like the FA 400 OPV. Incidentally, the FA-400 was built on speculation, although ADSB remains confident of a customer.
Talking at IMDEX 2025, Massey hinted of future success in Asia. “In terms of Asia, I’m hopeful that we will announce something in Indonesia in the future for patrol boats.”
At Indo Defence 2022 in Jakarta, ADSB had signed a memorandum of understanding with PT PAL to strengthen cooperation and leverage capabilities in terms of interceptors, landing craft and rigid-hulled inflatable boats for Indonesia’s navy and coast guard.
Massey said at the time, “Our cooperation with PT PAL clearly strengthens our investment in Indonesia and the global export success of our world-class vessels … We are very pleased to be working with PT PAL, and we look forward to jointly pursuing opportunities that will help to achieve our respective business and national objectives.”
by Gordon Arthur
