Now ‘flying’ boats in UAE

They would be manufactured locally and an agreement has been signed in this regard at the DIBS. The pact will pilot and assess the flying boats’ performance.

TT Bureau

Inspired by the pearl-diving heritage of the Emirates, the sustainability-focused X-Pearl—a brainchild of innovative French firm SeaBubbles—is powered by a hybrid hydrogen-electric propulsion system and retractable foils, and is available for purchase. While scaled models of both its flagship H2 and the X-Pearl were unveiled last month at Dubai Harbour, the company hopes to have the limited-edition UAE model zipping along Dubai Creek, Dubai Canal, or Abu Dhabi Corniche before next year’s COP28. That vision moved one step closer at the 28th edition of the Dubai International Boat Show (DIBS) as SeaBubbles capitalized on the nautical showpiece to sign a deal with Al Masaood Power Division. The agreement will see both parties collaborating to pilot and assess the performance of hydrogen-powered flying boats, manufacture and maintain operations in the Emirates, and retrofit existing boats with SeaBubbles’ sustainable powertrain system.

“The DIBS is iconic, so it felt like an opportunity to reveal the X-Pearl to a global audience and showcase that we are moving towards this ecological transition together with the Al Masaood Power Division,” asserted Virginie Seurat,  VP, SeaBubbles.