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Faster than helicopter, cheaper than taxi: UAE could get new transport mode by next year
Called Seaglider, the all-electric, wing-in-ground-effect craft operates dock-to-dock, over-water routes within a wingspan of the water's surface
- PUBLISHED: Tue 11 Feb 2025, 9:01 PM
- By:
- Angel Tesorero
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Travelling at high speeds over water as fast as a helicopter at a cost cheaper than a taxi fare. This is the promise by the CEO of a start-up company that is planning to add another futuristic vehicle to the UAE’s transportation network.
Called Seaglider, the all-electric, wing-in-ground-effect craft operates dock-to-dock, over-water routes within a wingspan of the water's surface. It combines the speed of an aircraft with the operating cost and accessibility of a boat, said Billy Thalheimer, founder and CEO of Regent Craft, at the World Governments Summit in Dubai on Tuesday.
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“The prototype will be on the water very soon and we are expecting to get it tested on the air this summer. The product vehicle will be delivered late 2026 or early 2027,” Thalheimer told Khaleej Times.
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He added seagliders will be built to the same safety standards as modern aircraft and watercraft. They can operate on service routes up to 180 miles (300km) with existing battery technology, with a potential to serve routes of up to 500 miles (800km) once next-generation batteries become available, all using existing dock infrastructure.
The best part is that seagliders can travel as fast as a chartered helicopter at a cost cheaper than a taxi fare. Thalheimer said passengers who will ride a 12-seater Seaglider will each pay only $45 or Dh165 for trip between Abu Dhabi Marina and Dubai Marina.
Float, foil, and fly
Thalheimer explained seagliders operate in three modes – float, foil, and fly.
Seagliders float on their hull at docks or while maneuvering at low speeds, using existing dock infrastructure to pick up and drop off passengers and goods.
Seagliders then rise onto hydrofoils — the wings operate underwater to lift the hull out of the water to reduce drag and avoid waves. These will also be used to navigate harbors while on low takeoff speeds.
Then seagliders fly over open water at speeds up to 180mph (300kmph) on a cushion of air using a phenomenon called “ground effect,” meaning they are always “flying within one wingspan of the water’s surface.”
Thalheimer showed a video of a seaglider prototype that was tested on actual waters. He added Regent Company, which has global headquarters in Rhode Island, USA, is building the flagship Seaglider, Viceroy, which is a 12-passenger vehicle. He added 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.
Made in the UAE
The country will play a major role in the development of seagliders, noted Thalheimer. There will be local support and investment to expand its global operations, including workforce development, supply chain, integration and seaglider delivery
In April last year, the Abu Dhabi Investment Office (ADIO) and Regent signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on the sidelines of DRIFTx, Abu Dhabi’s smart and autonomous mobility transport event.
The MoU entails providing support and attracting investment for the technology’s development and manufacturing at the Smart and Autonomous Vehicles Industry (SAVI) cluster, located in Masdar City.
“Plans are maturing,” Thalheimer said confidently, adding: “We have some big announcements to make in the next couple of days.”
