NAVDEX 2025: Rabdan FA-400 makes its show debut

Just over four months after the keel-laying ceremony, Abu Dhabi Ship Building (ADSB) has presented the Rabdan FA-400 off-shore patrol vessel at the NAVDEX exhibition in Abu Dhabi, which is being held from 17th – 21st February. 

“This achievement reinforces ADSB’s design capabilities and marks a major step forward in bolstering the UAE’s shipbuilding and naval capabilities,” David Massey, CEO of ADSB said in a press release. The FA-400 was developed with all intellectual property owned by ADSB, and the entire vessel was built by the company, marking the first time a UAE company has designed and built a vessel of this size and capability.

The FA-400 is designed to be a 45 m long fast patrol ship with an 8.3 m beam and 2 m draught. It will have a crew of 30 and a top speed when fully loaded of 28 knots, increasing to more than 30 knots when half loaded. 

A series of contracts and partnerships were announced between ADSB and several companies including Lacroix, Indra, Dynateq, SIATT, and OSI Maritime Systems during the 2024 iteration of Euronaval. The extent to which those systems have been integrated onto the FA-400 and are now in working condition has not been made clear. 

Calibre comment

Having domestic capabilities like the FA-400 enables the UAE to attend to its own security to some extent, but also helps establish its domestic defence industry. The ability to build and design ships is key as it limits the need for partnerships or the procurement of IP from other companies. 

There are several serious threats to maritime security in the UAE’s neighbourhood including Iran’s attacks against commercial shipping as well as the Houthis and the ongoing security concerns in Yemen. The Houthis have launched small boat attacks against commercial vessels traversing the Red Sea as well as Gulf of Aden and there is also some evidence of increased attacks from Somali pirates off the Horn of Africa. The UAE has contributed to the US-led Combined Maritime Forces (CMF) and commanded its Combined Task Force 152, which focuses on illicit non-state actors in the Arabian Gulf. However, the country did appear to reduce its involvement in the CMF in 2023.

By Sam Cranny-Evans, published on 17th February 2025.