REGENT’s Billy Thalheimer to Address Global Leaders at World Governments Summit
North Kingstown, RI, February 6, 2025 — REGENT Craft Co-founder and CEO Billy Thalheimer will give a keynote address at the World Governments Summit in Dubai, UAE, on February 11, 2025. Billy will present on the “Coastal Mobility Revolution: The Rise of Seagliders,” sharing his insights on the future of maritime mobility and discussing key takeaways from his pioneering work developing the seaglider, a novel all-electric high-speed maritime vessel that operates exclusively over water to connect coastal destinations.
Billy will also share updates on seagliders in the UAE, including:
- Diverse use cases for seagliders, including passenger travel, cargo and logistics, and emergency response services
- Survey results of consumer demand for seagliders in the UAE
- Seaglider routes, including projected travel times and ticket prices
- Updates on existing REGENT partnerships across government, infrastructure, business, and community groups
- Plans for expansion in the UAE and region
REGENT in the UAE
According to a recent REGENT global consumer survey, 98% of UAE residents say they are interested in taking a seaglider, higher than the global average of 86%. Seagliders offer the speed of a charter helicopter at the cost of a taxi — while passengers can escape bumper-to-bumper traffic and enjoy a smooth, scenic ride. A seaglider ride from Abu Dhabi to Dubai, for example, will take under 30 minutes, compared to almost two hours by car, and cost under $50, compared to almost $1,000 by helicopter.
Seagliders are expected to enter into service in the UAE in 2027, and REGENT is working with key stakeholders in the country to enable a smooth integration into existing transportation networks. REGENT collaborations in the UAE include:
- An agreement with the Abu Dhabi Investment Office (ADIO) to explore development and manufacturing capabilities in Abu Dhabi.
- An agreement with the Abu Dhabi Department of Municipalities and Transportation (DOT) to integrate seaglider service into the existing UAE transportation network.
- Partnership with Abu Dhabi Maritime to explore the feasibility of electric seagliders as a mode of transportation on Abu Dhabi waterways.
- Partnership with maritime classification society Lloyd’s Register and ongoing collaboration with the UAE Marine Transport Affairs Department to advance seaglider maritime certification in the country
- Investment from Strategic Development Fund (SDF), an Abu Dhabi-based investment firm and part of EDGE Group
- Selection by ADNOC Logistics and Services (ADNOC L&S), the dedicated logistics arm of Abu Dhabi National Oil Company, for a proof-of-concept trial as part of a multi-phase introduction of seagliders to support offshore energy logistics in the UAE
- Collaboration with global logistics and transportation solutions provider Aramex to assess the feasibility of integrating REGENT's high-speed seagliders into Aramex's middle-mile logistics network
About REGENT
REGENT is the developer and manufacturer of the seaglider, a novel all-electric high-speed maritime vessel that operates exclusively over water to connect coastal destinations. Seagliders apply innovative technology and use existing dock infrastructure to increase the efficiency and accessibility of coastal transportation, offering a new solution for applications including passenger travel, cargo and logistics, and emergency response services. REGENT’s flagship seaglider, Viceroy, is a 12-passenger vehicle that travels at up to 300km to service routes up to 300km on a single charge. REGENT has a global order book worth more than $9 billion across six continents and has raised more than $90 million from investors including Strategic Development Fund (SDF), Neom, Japan Airlines, and Lockheed Martin.
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About Billy Thalheimer
Billy is the co-founder and CEO of REGENT. Billy honed his skills in human-crewed electric aircraft development at Boeing subsidiary Aurora Flight Sciences, where he was responsible for aircraft design, program management, and business generation for Boeing's portfolio of future air mobility solutions. Billy holds a B.S. and M.S. in Aerospace Engineering from MIT and is a licensed aerobatic pilot. Billy can speak on topics including:
- Future of transportation, electric transportation, maritime transportation
- Maritime regulation and infrastructure development
- Manufacturing and workforce development
- Innovation and the role of multistakeholder partnerships
