Regent, a US company specializing in electric passenger sea planes, has announced plans to secure additional orders for its prototype from clients in the UAE and Egypt by the end of May. The company is backed by the UAE defense firm Edge Group, which invested $250 million to support the development of Regent’s innovative aircraft known as the seaglider.

The Rhode Island-based manufacturer has designed an all-electric sea plane capable of carrying 12 passengers at speeds of up to 180 miles per hour. According to Regent, the seaglider takes off from a dock, accelerates on a hydrofoil, and flies approximately 10 meters above the water, with a range of 180 miles on a single charge.

In addition to its partnership with Edge Group’s Strategic Development Fund (SDF), Regent is also in discussions with potential buyers in Saudi Arabia and expects to finalize an order with an Egyptian Red Sea operator. Shadi El Abdallah, Regent’s regional director for business development in Dubai, expressed optimism about the future, stating, “We anticipate a lot of seagliders operating on that Red Sea coastline in the future.”

Regent aims to bring its seaglider prototype to market by the end of next year. As part of its agreement with SDF, the company plans to establish a manufacturing facility in Abu Dhabi, modeled after its existing factory in Rhode Island, which began construction in January. This move aligns with Abu Dhabi’s strategy to invest billions in high-tech projects to foster innovation and secure its economic future.