Why seagliders make sense for the UAE
Here at REGENT, we can’t wait to get onboard a seaglider and take it for a ride -- and we’re getting closer to that moment day by day! It's been incredible to see that same excitement from coastal residents in countries around the world, perhaps none more so than in the UAE.
Out of all the places we surveyed for our 2024 global consumer survey on regional coastal transportation, the UAE had the highest percentage of coastal residents who were interested in riding a seaglider, 98%, compared to the global average of 86%.
Travel trends in the UAE
It’s clear why the demand for seagliders in the country is so high: seagliders just make sense. After all, 85% of the UAE’s population lives along the coast, and, according to the survey, almost two-thirds (63%) of UAE residents travel between coastal destinations at least once a month.
The primary form of transportation for those routes is their own car or vehicle (63%), though when you consider all forms of road travel, including buses, taxis, and rental cars, the percentage of travel by road rises to 84%. That’s compared to just 9% by plane and 3% by watercraft.
But we all know road travel can be slow, uncomfortable, and filled with traffic, and taking a plane means time spent getting to an airport and waiting in lines to get through security.
In other words, there’s a huge untapped opportunity for over-the-water travel solutions.
The seaglider solution
According to the survey, the top considerations for UAE consumers when selecting transportation options are safety, comfort, and enjoyability. Seagliders deliver on all three.
Seagliders offer the speed of a charter helicopter at the cost of a taxi — while passengers escape bumper-to-bumper traffic and enjoy a smooth, scenic ride. A seaglider ride from Abu Dhabi to Dubai, for example, will take just 30 minutes, compared to almost two hours by car, and cost under $50, compared to almost $1,000 by helicopter.
Seagliders will also create new access for underserved communities. For example, they can connect Abu Dhabi to places like Dalma Island, which currently is only reachable by limited flight options.
They also offer solutions for multiple use cases – from passenger travel to cargo transport to offshore energy logistics.
And they’re 100% emission-free, helping the UAE reach its goal of net zero emissions by 2050.
Our UAE partners
The momentum for seagliders in the UAE is growing.
REGENT and the Abu Dhabi Investment Office (ADIO) signed an agreement last year to collaborate on seaglider development and manufacturing capabilities at Abu Dhabi’s Smart and Autonomous Vehicle Industry (SAVI) cluster.
REGENT also has an agreement with the Abu Dhabi Department of Municipalities and Transportation (DMT) to integrate seaglider service into the existing UAE transportation network.
Last week we announced our partnership with Abu Dhabi Maritime to explore seaglider adoption in Abu Dhabi.
And there are more exciting announcements coming soon!
We look forward to bringing seagliders to the UAE and turning this dream of a better transportation solution into a reality.