A group of leading UAE maritime and industrial companies has launched the country’s first national shipbuilders consortium, creating a unified platform for shipbuilding, vessel repair, marine engineering, and fabrication projects.
The new Consortium of UAE Shipbuilders brings together companies from across the maritime supply chain as the UAE seeks to expand its maritime industrial capabilities and increase its competitiveness in regional and international markets.
Founding members include AD Ports Group, SAFEEN Drydocks, Dubai Shipbuilding & Engineering, Al Seer Marine, Dutch Oriental, JOME Engineering, Saifee, Blue Gulf Ship Builders, and MBK Marine Industries.
The consortium will be led by Noatum Maritime, the maritime and shipping division of AD Ports Group.
According to participating companies, the initiative is intended to improve coordination across the UAE shipbuilding sector, increase visibility over upcoming projects, streamline procurement processes, and support more efficient execution of large-scale marine contracts.
Industry participants also said the platform could help smaller UAE-based shipyards and marine contractors gain access to larger and more technically complex projects that previously may have been beyond their capacity.
AD Ports Group Managing Director and CEO Mohamed Juma Al Shamisi said the consortium would help strengthen the UAE’s position within global maritime trade and industrial manufacturing by improving alignment and scale across the sector.
The launch reflects broader investment trends across the Gulf region, where governments and state-backed companies continue to expand maritime infrastructure, offshore support capabilities, and industrial diversification initiatives linked to shipping and energy sectors.
Noatum Maritime already operates shipbuilding and repair activities in the UAE through SAFEEN Drydocks, its joint venture with Premier Marine Engineering Services. The company has also expanded its international footprint through the acquisition of Spain’s Balenciaga Shipyard.
The consortium marks one of the UAE’s most significant efforts to consolidate domestic maritime industrial capacity as regional competition intensifies in ship repair, offshore support, and specialized vessel construction markets.
