Fincantieri becomes Diamond Sponsor of Qatar’s DIMDEX 2026 naval defense exhibition.

Fincantieri has been announced as the Diamond Sponsor of the Doha International Maritime Defence Exhibition and Conference (DIMDEX) 2026, following the company’s delivery of seven naval vessels to the Qatar Emiri Naval Forces under a €4 billion contract.

The Organising Committee of DIMDEX 2026 announced on 11 November 2025 in Doha that Fincantieri will serve as the event’s Diamond Sponsor. The exhibition, hosted by the Qatar Armed Forces, will take place from January 19 to 22, 2026, at the Qatar National Convention Centre. The sponsorship highlights the continuation of Fincantieri’s naval collaboration with Qatar following the completion of its multi-shipbuilding programme.
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As a Diamond Sponsor of DIMDEX 2026, Fincantieri secures premium exposure among senior defence-industry decision-makers, gains VIP access to meetings and private discussions, and associates itself with one of the Gulf region’s most influential maritime defence events. (Picture source: DIMDEX)

Scheduled from 19 to 22 January 2026 at the Qatar National Convention Centre (QNCC), the four-day event is hosted and organised by the Qatar Armed Forces under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Head of State and Supreme Commander of the Qatar Armed Forces. DIMDEX 2026 is described as a platform bringing together international defence companies, investors, and decision-makers, providing access to the latest naval technologies, next-generation defence systems, and advanced maritime equipment. The exhibition aims to facilitate technical cooperation, defence procurement discussions, and industry-to-military engagement. Fincantieri’s confirmation as Diamond Sponsor reinforces its ongoing industrial and naval cooperation with Qatar following several years of collaboration under a major shipbuilding and training programme.

According to the organisers, DIMDEX serves as a forum for expertise and commercial exchange among leading defence entities while supporting strategic dialogue on global maritime security challenges. The event also aims to highlight Qatar’s contribution to international defence cooperation and to promote innovation, investment, and partnership across the maritime and security industries. The signing ceremony for the sponsorship took place at the Ministry of Defence in Doha in the presence of HE Lt Gen (Pilot) Jassim bin Mohammed Al Mannai, Chief of Staff of the Qatar Armed Forces, and senior representatives from both sides, including Aldo Zizzo, Fincantieri’s Qatar Country Manager. The agreement was signed by Staff Brigadier (Sea) Abdulbaqi Saleh Al-Ansari, Chairman of the DIMDEX Organising Committee, and Mauro Manzini, Senior Vice President and Director of Naval Vessel Sales at Fincantieri.

Lt Gen Al Mannai stated that Qatar intends to strengthen collective defence capabilities through sustained investment in advanced technologies and collaboration with international partners to enhance stability and resilience. He added that this vision aligns with Qatar’s strategy to ensure progress and peace through strategic cooperation and innovation. Staff Brigadier Al-Ansari underlined that Fincantieri’s renewed participation as Diamond Sponsor for DIMDEX 2026 follows its sponsorship of previous editions and contributes to the event’s role as a key venue for international maritime cooperation. He explained that this partnership supports the exchange of expertise and strengthens relationships between shipbuilders and regional defence institutions.

Fincantieri’s CEO and Managing Director, Pierroberto Folgiero, stated that the sponsorship aligns with the company’s long-term collaboration with the Qatar Emiri Naval Forces (QENF), describing DIMDEX as an important venue for discussion on future naval technologies. Folgiero noted that Fincantieri’s naval construction programme in Qatar, together with the local after-sales infrastructure and support network, reflects the long-term framework of the relationship between both sides. He emphasised that participation in DIMDEX 2026 allows the company to contribute to the evolution of naval industrial cooperation and to maintain direct engagement with partners in Qatar and abroad. The company’s approach focuses on operational integration, logistics, and capability-building in cooperation with national forces.

To date, Fincantieri has delivered seven new-generation naval vessels to the Qatar Emiri Naval Forces as part of the national naval acquisition programme. The €4 billion contract signed in June 2016 included four Al Zubarah-class corvettes, two Musherib-class offshore patrol vessels, and the Al Fulk amphibious transport dock. The Al Zubarah-class corvettes are approximately 107 meters long with a displacement of around 3,250 tonnes and feature a Combined Diesel and Diesel (CODAD) propulsion system with four diesel engines, providing a maximum speed of 28 knots, range exceeding 3,500 nautical miles at 15 knots, and 21-day endurance. They are equipped with a Leonardo Kronos Grand Naval AESA radar, the SAAM-ESD air-defence system with 16 MBDA Aster 30 Block 1 missiles, eight Exocet MM40 Block 3 anti-ship missiles, two 30 mm Marlin remote weapon stations, a 76 mm OTO Melara Super Rapid gun, and a Rolling Airframe Missile launcher with 21 cells. Each vessel has a hangar and deck for an NH90 helicopter, and its combat system integrates sensors and weapons produced by Leonardo, Elettronica, and MBDA.

The two Musherib-class offshore patrol vessels were designed for coastal and extended patrol missions. They measure approximately 63.8 meters in length, with a displacement of about 725 tonnes, a beam of 9.2 meters, and a draft of 5.65 meters. Their propulsion system allows speeds up to 30 knots and a range of 1,500 nautical miles at 15 knots with an endurance of seven days. The vessels are equipped with a Leonardo Kronos Naval HP radar, electronic warfare systems by Elettronica, a 76 mm OTO Melara gun, two Marlin 30 mm remote stations, two four-cell vertical launch systems for MBDA VL MICA surface-to-air missiles, and two twin Exocet MM40 Block 3 launchers. Both ships can operate rigid-hulled inflatable boats through cranes and ramps, and are configured for multi-role coastal security, surveillance, and deterrence operations. Fincantieri’s design approach in the Qatari naval programme included full lifecycle support with In-Service Support, Integrated Logistic Support, and crew training, as well as infrastructure for maintenance at QENF bases.

The Al Fulk amphibious transport dock represents the largest unit in the Qatari fleet, measuring 143 meters in length and 21.5 meters in beam with a displacement of approximately 8,800 tonnes. Built at Fincantieri’s Palermo and Muggiano shipyards, it was launched in January 2023, began sea trials in May 2024, and was delivered to Qatar on 29 November 2024. The vessel has a continuous flight deck with two helicopter landing spots and a hangar accommodating up to three NH90 helicopters. It includes a floodable dock capable of launching landing craft and a garage for vehicles with ramps connecting decks and shore facilities. The ship’s combat system integrates a Leonardo Kronos multifunction radar and a Kronos Power Shield L-band radar for early warning and air surveillance, complemented by two Sylver A50 vertical launch systems for MBDA Aster 15 and Aster 30 missiles, providing area air defence and tactical ballistic missile defence capability. The platform also includes Sylena Mk2 decoy launchers and four 30 mm Marlin guns for close-range protection.

The broader industrial relationship between Fincantieri and the Qatar Emiri Naval Forces includes training and educational cooperation established through a Memorandum of Understanding signed in Doha on 12 March 2024. The agreement aimed to expand advanced education and training programmes for QENF personnel based on Italian naval practices and supported by the Italian Navy and defence authorities. These programmes focus on maintaining operational capabilities and ensuring interoperability with Qatari ground and air forces, as well as allied foreign navies. This follows the earlier implementation of industrial and operative training carried out in Italy between 2018 and 2023, covering the operation of combat systems, base maintenance, and language instruction for personnel. The joint training and logistic support elements are designed to maintain fleet readiness and extend the life cycle of the seven-ship programme. This cooperation forms part of a larger strategic effort to integrate Qatari naval forces with international defence networks.

Fincantieri’s continued participation in DIMDEX underlines the company’s role in supporting maritime security and defence cooperation in the Gulf region. The group, which has built more than 7,000 vessels over its 230-year history and operates 21 shipyards across four continents, is active in both naval and civilian shipbuilding, including cruise ships, offshore vessels, and special-purpose platforms. The DIMDEX 2026 exhibition will bring together international shipbuilders, defence companies, and military delegations for discussions, workshops, and technology showcases. For Qatar, the event serves as a platform to present recent defence acquisitions, including the new fleet delivered by Fincantieri, while engaging in discussions about future capability development. For Fincantieri, the Diamond Sponsorship aligns with a long-term partnership that combines shipbuilding, training, sustainment, and innovation, linking industrial cooperation with the ongoing transformation of the Qatar Emiri Naval Forces.

Written by Jérôme Brahy

Jérôme Brahy is a defense analyst and documentalist at Army Recognition. He specializes in naval modernization, aviation, drones, armored vehicles, and artillery, with a focus on strategic developments in the United States, China, Ukraine, Russia, Türkiye, and Belgium. His analyses go beyond the facts, providing context, identifying key actors, and explaining why defense news matters on a global scale.