EDGE and CMN NAVAL establish multi-billion euro joint venture for naval shipbuilding

The joint venture will manage an existing commercial order pipeline valued at approximately EUR 7 billion. Under the agreement, EDGE will hold a 51% stake, with both companies collaborating on sales, engineering, and commercial activities.

AD NAVAL will benefit from CMN NAVAL’s expertise in ship design and engineering, while EDGE will establish a dedicated design bureau. This will grant EDGE intellectual property rights for future vessel designs and access to CMN NAVAL’s global supply chain and advanced logistics systems.

The partnership will also explore the integration of EDGE’s autonomous air and sea systems, smart weapons, and combat technologies into newly manufactured vessels. This will enhance operational performance and cost efficiency through predictive maintenance and optimised logistics support.

Hamad Al Marar, Managing Director & CEO of EDGE Group, highlighted the strategic importance of the collaboration. He noted that the venture would strengthen EDGE’s presence in key markets, such as Africa, while creating employment opportunities and fostering innovation in the UAE’s naval sector.

The agreement follows an initial partnership signed at IDEX 2025 in Abu Dhabi, where both companies committed to advancing naval technologies. The JV aims to set new industry benchmarks by leveraging AI-driven autonomous systems, modular ship designs, and next-generation combat solutions.

Pierre Balmer, Chairman of CMN NAVAL, expressed confidence in the partnership’s potential to drive growth and technological advancement. He emphasised the joint venture’s role in expanding global naval capabilities while supporting technology transfer and industrial cooperation.

CMN NAVAL, a leading European shipbuilding group, has built over 3,500 vessels and supplied 48 navies worldwide. The company has a longstanding relationship with the UAE, including its involvement in the Baynunah corvette programme.