Apart from our normal Car Taxis and the announcement of Flying Taxis, Sea Gliders, or Water Taxis are coming to the UAE, to replace ferries between Abu Dhabi and Dubai.
Regent, an American Sea Glider manufacturer, has partnered with the Abu Dhabi Investment Office (ADIO) to develop this innovative technology at Masdar City’s Smart and Autonomous Vehicles Industry (SAVI) cluster, potentially cutting travel times by half.
Sea Gliders are hybrid vessels that operate just above the water’s surface, offering the cost efficiency of boats combined with the high speed of airplanes. Billy Thalheimer, co-founder and CEO of Regent, highlighted that these Sea Gliders have a range of approximately 180 miles (290 kilometres), making them direct competitors to small ferries and seaplanes. This technology could significantly improve connectivity to distant emirates such as Ras Al Khaimah and underserved island communities in the Gulf, like Dalma Island.
Thalheimer emphasized their goal to showcase the versatility of Sea Gliders, which can float, foil, and fly within one vehicle. By 2030, Abu Dhabi may also participate in manufacturing these Sea Gliders to meet demand in the Middle East, Europe, and surrounding regions.
Regent is currently developing the Viceroy, a passenger Sea Glider that uses wing-in-ground effect to reach speeds of nearly 300 km/h, and eventually, with battery advancements, could service routes at speeds up to 800 km/h. The Viceroy will accommodate 12 passengers, making the journey between Abu Dhabi and Dubai in just 25 minutes. Regent is building a full-scale model with a 20-meter wingspan, capable of carrying 12 passengers, with testing underway before full-scale production begins in the US next year. Regent’s fleet also includes the larger Monarch, which can carry up to 100 passengers.
