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During IDEX 2015, Abu Dhabi Ship Building (ADSB), a leading provider of construction, repair and refit services for naval, military and commercial vessels, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Thales to provide integrated engineering support services for military vessels. The MoU was signed by Dr. Khaled Al Mazrouei, CEO of ADSB, and Patrice Caine, CEO of Thales Group.
Under this strategic agreement, ADSB will collaborate with Thales to develop, implement, and deliver world-class life-cycle management solutions for ships for a number of regional defense stakeholders. The aim of this agreement is to develop and deliver comprehensive, efficient and cost-effective solutions for naval forces in the region, in addition to strengthening the maintenance, repair and overhaul operations of the UAE Armed Forces.
The MoU will enable ADSB to deliver on its strategy to expand operations beyond the UAE by providing solutions for marine fleets stationed in the region. ADSB and Thales will now be able to demonstrate their combined expertise and build strong relationships with regional naval forces.
The agreement includes cooperation in the following areas: renewal for expired vessels, programming system unification, procurement management, maintenance and operations training, data transfer, management of reinforcement systems and logistical support. Commenting on the partnership, Dr. Khaled Al Mazrouei, CEO of ADSB, said: “This partnership supports our strategy to capitalize on the company’s competitive advantage in maintenance, repair and overhaul services as we look to support our partners’ readiness in the region, as well as help develop national talent specialized in this field.”
Patrice Caine, CEO of the Thales Group commented: "Thales has been present in the Middle East for over 35 years and employs over 1 200 people in the region. Thanks to the strength of the relationship we have developed with Abu Dhabi Ship Building over a long period, this new enhanced cooperation will allow Thales to extend its offer of services for the UAE naval forces to include naval services ".
