Forging Future Naval Leaders: The Dynamic Partnership Between Fincantieri and Qatar’s Emiri Naval Forces

Fincantieri and the Qatar Emiri Naval Forces (QENF) have officially formalized a Memorandum of Understanding in Doha, setting the stage for negotiations aimed at establishing new agreements for offering state-of-the-art education & training methodologies to QENF personnel.

The agreement was inked between the General Manager of Fincantieri’s Naval Vessels Division, Dario Deste, and Major General Abdulla Hassan Al-Sulaiti, Commander of the Qatar Emiri Naval Forces, during the Doha International Maritime Defense Exhibition & Conference (DIMDEX) 2024, which occurred last week in Qatar.

The partnership will facilitate enhanced discussions regarding the development and implementation of Fincantieri’s advanced Italian education & training methodologies, bolstered by support from Italian Authorities and other defense associates.

These methodologies will be grounded in an avant-garde approach to education & training, focusing on the ongoing advancement of QENF’s maritime competencies, ensuring comprehensive integration and interoperability with Qatar’s ground and aerial military forces, as well as allied foreign naval fleets.

In June 2016, a contract was executed between the Qatar Armed Forces and Fincantieri for the fabrication of seven naval vessels, along with provisions for In-Service Support, Integrated Logistic Support, industrial training for crew members and base maintainers, operational training for crews, language courses for each vessel, and related boarding, lodging, and infrastructural needs.

Fincantieri has successfully delivered six vessels and has conducted several of the mentioned activities, which include part of the training for QENF personnel (industrial training for crew members and base maintainers as well as operational training for crews).

Building upon the training modules that have already been effectively executed in Italy by Fincantieri, with an emphasis on the operational use of the Italian Combat System aboard the vessels and in alignment with the training apparatus already provided, the QENF is keen on enhancing the education & training initiatives aimed at sustaining the skills acquired within the QENF through regular updates.