Abu Dhabi: EDGE, one of the world's leading advanced technology and defence groups, and CMN NAVAL, a world-renowned naval shipbuilding group specialising in the design, engineering, and construction of superior naval and commercial vessels, and mega yachts, have formally agreed to create a new Abu Dhabi-based shipbuilding joint venture (JV) named AD NAVAL (ADN).
According to Emirates News Agency, leveraging an existing order pipeline worth approximately EUR 7 billion, the JV will bring together both companies under an exclusivity agreement on the segment of high-value small to mid-size naval vessels including Corvettes, Offshore Patrol Vehicles (OPVs), High-speed Interceptors, Trimarans, and Landing Craft. The move will see EDGE significantly expand the scope of its capabilities in the naval domain.
EDGE, holding a 51 percent stake in the new company, will collaborate with CMN NAVAL on sales, commercial activities, and engineering. It will also establish a design bureau which will assume intellectual property rights for all future designs. The JV will grant EDGE access to CMN NAVAL's global supply chain and its advanced Integrated Logistics Support (ILS) system and software, enhancing cost efficiency and operational performance through predictive and preventative maintenance, as well as the provision and management of all spare parts.
The scope of the JV will also explore Combat Systems Integration (CSI) of EDGE's advanced autonomous air and sea, and smart weapons solutions onto vessels built by the new company. Hamad Al Marar, EDGE Group Managing Director and CEO, stated that the collaboration with CMN will enable both companies to combine expertise and share technology in the naval domain, building superior vessels in the UAE and developing cross-complementary integration programmes for autonomous systems and smart weapons.
The announcement follows an initial partnership agreement signed at IDEX 2025 last month in Abu Dhabi, where both parties laid the foundations for collaboration across multiple domains, including the development of cutting-edge naval platforms, system integration, maintenance, and commercial initiatives. The JV aims to set new benchmarks in naval innovation, leveraging next-generation technologies such as AI-driven autonomous systems, advanced combat solutions, and modular ship designs.
The JV will create valuable direct employment opportunities for skilled personnel in the UAE, as well as related third-party opportunities across its global supply chain. Pierre Balmer, Chairman of CMN NAVAL, expressed pride in the strategic collaboration, highlighting the shared commitment to innovation and excellence. The partnership is expected to strengthen presence in key international markets and pave the way for enhanced technology transfer, industrial cooperation, and job creation.