Al Seer Marine to participate in OFUQ 4.0 programme to Advance Emiratisation and Maritime Innovation

Abu Dhabi, 27th Jan 2026 : Al Seer Marine signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to participate in "OFUQ 4.0" International Programme, a flagship Emiratisation initiative overseen by the Tawazun Council for Defence Enablement and implemented by the German Emirati Institute (GEI).

The signing took place at the Tawazun Council’s Pavilion at UMEX and SimTEX 2026, which concluded recently in Abu Dhabi.

The MOU was signed by Helmut Reichelt, Deputy CEO and Director Education Affairs at the German Emirati Institute and Holger Schulte-Hillen, Chief Operating Officer – Innovation, Defense & Technologies at Al Seer Marine.

Through this collaboration, Al Seer Marine, as one of the companies joining the Programme, will support the recruitment, training, and long-term development of high-potential Emirati graduates in advanced maritime technologies, including shipbuilding, autonomous systems, and unmanned surface vehicle (USV) programmes.

OFUQ 4.0 is an initiative launched by Tawazun Council for Defence Enablement in alignment with its strategic vision to build an advanced, sustainable national defence ecosystem through industrial localisation, innovation-driven development, and empowerment of Emirati talent.

It is designed to strengthen industrial cooperation between the UAE and Germany while enabling private-sector companies to integrate Emirati talent into critical Industry 4.0 and defence-adjacent programmes. Selected trainees will participate in a structured international training pathway to be held in Germany, combining in-house experience with hands-on technical exposure

H.E. Khalifa Ayada Al Hameli, Executive Director, Strategy & Executive Affairs Sector at Tawazun, said: “The collaboration between OFUQ 4.0 and Al Seer Marine marks an important milestone in our mission to develop Emirati talent through strategic partnerships with German industry institutions. We are now focused on expanding the programme by engaging more Emirati defence companies, enabling us to attract exceptional national talent and drive the continued growth of our defence industrial base."

"By participating in OFUQ 4.0, Al Seer Marine reinforces its commitment to Emiratisation and sustainable workforce development, local capability building in advanced maritime and autonomous systems, and supporting national defence and industrial strategies through knowledge transfer. This collaboration reflects our ongoing dedication to developing future-ready maritime capabilities while contributing meaningfully to the UAE's long-term economic and national security objectives," said Holger Schulte-Hillen, Chief Operating Officer – Innovation, Defense & Technologies, of Al Seer Marine.

"OFUQ 4.0 represents a powerful platform for building future-ready Emirati talent through meaningful international Industry 4.0 exposure and structured technical development, said Helmut Reichelt, Deputy CEO & Director Education Affairs at the GEI.

“At GEI, we are proud to partner with Tawazun and Al Seer Marine to enable with our broad experience, Emirati engineering graduates to gain world-class expertise in advanced maritime technologies, while directly supporting the UAE’s strategic capabilities, industrial, and defence ambitions.”