ADSB Floats Out Kuwait’s First Al-Dorra-Class Missile Boat
•February 10, 2026
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Companies Mentioned
Why It Matters
The deal boosts Kuwait’s maritime security while cementing the UAE’s emergence as a major naval exporter, reshaping defense procurement dynamics across the Gulf. It signals growing confidence in locally designed and built warships, reducing reliance on traditional Western shipyards.
Key Takeaways
- •First Al-Dorra-class missile boat launched for Kuwait
- •62‑meter vessel marks Middle East's largest naval export
- •ADSB built vessel entirely in UAE, showcasing local capability
- •Contract part of $2.4 bn EDGE Group deal with Kuwait
- •Highlights UAE shipbuilding growth and regional defense partnerships
Pulse Analysis
The Gulf region’s heightened maritime tensions have driven a surge in demand for fast, heavily armed patrol vessels. By subcontracting the Al‑Dorra‑class program to ADSB, EDGE Group secured a $2.4 billion contract that now stands as the Middle East’s largest naval export. This partnership not only delivers a state‑of‑the‑art missile boat to Kuwait but also showcases the UAE’s capacity to produce sophisticated combat platforms that rival traditional Western suppliers.
Al NOUKHITHA, a 62‑meter offshore patrol vessel, integrates advanced missile systems, stealth‑shaped hull design, and modular mission bays, offering Kuwait enhanced surface‑warfare capability and operational flexibility. The boat’s speed and firepower are tailored to counter asymmetric threats in the Persian Gulf, reinforcing Kuwait’s ability to protect its critical oil infrastructure and shipping lanes. Its deployment will augment the existing fleet, providing a deterrent posture that aligns with the kingdom’s broader maritime security strategy.
For the UAE, the launch marks a milestone in its defense industrialization agenda. ADSB’s transition from a maintenance outfit to a full‑scale warship builder reflects significant investment in local R&D, supply‑chain development, and skilled labor. Success with the Al‑Dorra‑class, alongside contracts for Angolan corvettes and Falaj‑3 OPVs, positions the Emirates as a competitive hub for naval exports. This momentum is likely to attract further regional customers, diversify revenue streams, and reduce dependence on foreign shipyards, reshaping the strategic landscape of naval procurement in the Middle East.
ADSB floats out Kuwait’s first Al-Dorra-class missile boat
Abu Dhabi Ship Building (ADSB) has launched the first Al-Dorra-class offshore patrol vessel, AL NOUKHITHA, being built for the Kuwait Ministry of Defense.
The 62-meter vessel is the first unit to be delivered under a contract subcontracted by EDGE Group to supply advanced missile boats to Kuwait, a deal described as the largest naval export contract in the Middle East to date.
The launch ceremony took place at ADSB’s shipyard in Abu Dhabi and was attended by senior officials from the UAE Navy and Kuwait Naval Forces, EDGE Group leadership, industry partners and regional dignitaries.
The Al-Dorra-class vessels are designed to provide enhanced maritime security and operational flexibility, reflecting ADSB’s growing capabilities in the design and construction of sophisticated offshore patrol vessels and corvettes.
Khaled Al Zaabi, Chairman of ADSB, said the program demonstrates the company’s ability to compete at the highest international level and deliver complex naval platforms entirely designed and built in the UAE. He highlighted recent growth driven by major international contracts, expanding revenues and the delivery of increasingly advanced warships.
The launch of AL NOUKHITHA coincided with ADSB marking three decades since its establishment in 1995, a period during which the company has evolved from a naval maintenance provider into one of the Middle East’s most advanced naval shipbuilders.
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The company has recently secured several landmark contracts, including a fleet of 71-meter corvettes for the Angolan Navy.
Combined with the recent commissioning of the first of the FALAJ 3 fleet into the UAE Navy, these programs demonstrate ADSB’s capability and growing reputation as a trusted partner to naval forces around the world.
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“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,” David Massey, CEO of ADSB, commented.
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The post ADSB floats out Kuwait’s first Al-Dorra-class missile boat appeared first on Naval Today.
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