The ceremony began with the reading of a few words from the Koran, carried out by the Commander of the Saudi Navy, after which a video was shown on the city Al-Jubail (city that gives name to the ship) and a timelapse summary of the construction and that can be seen on the Navantia website... continuation, the hymns of Saudi Arabia and Spain have started the speeches.

Navantia has successfully carried out the launch maneuver of the first of the five corbites built for the Saudi Arabian Navy... the ship, named after Al-Jubail, has slipped from the number 2 to the sea in the shipyard of San Fernando and has been chaired by the Commander of the Saudi Navy, Vice Admiral Fahad Bin Abdullah Al- Ghodaily; by the President of Navantia, Susana de Sarriá; by the acting CEO of SAMI, Walid Abukhaled; and by the Vice-President, Ricardo Hernández, Alda.

The acting CEO of SAMI has expressed its pride for the strong relationship between SAMI, Navantia and the Saudi Navy, and for the valuable collaboration that has been reflected in the launch of the first Saudi combat system, fully developed by SAMI, which represents a fundamental pillar for the development of local capacities.

The design of the corbites is state-of-the-art, while maximising Navantia's participation by incorporating its own products, such as the CATIZ combat system, the HERMESYS integrated communications system, the DORNA shooting address, the Integrated Platform Control System and the MINERVA integrated bridge, along with other equipment developed by Navantia under licence, such as the MTU engines or RENK reducing boxes.

Since the first iron was cut in January 2019, all the workshops in Navantia San Fernando and also in Puerto Real have worked tirelessly to ensure that this first ship is completed. This first corbeta has been successfully completed despite the decline in activity caused by the Covit-19 pandemic. Precisely, the safety protocols approved by Navantia have marked this event, in which all the attendees have accessed with mask and keeping the required safety distance.

From now on, the goal is to return to the initial deadlines, so that the next corbeta can be launched next November. In fact, after the launch ceremony, Captain Abdullah Alshehri was able to witness the progress in the construction of the second unit, "Aldiriyah" in step 3.

This contract, in force since November 2019, strengthens the immediate future of Navantia and benefits all the shipyards of the company and its auxiliary industry, especially the entire Bay of Cadiz.

It will in particular involve a global workload of about seven million hours, which, translated into employment, will reach 6,000 per year over the next 5 years, of which more than 1,100 will be direct employees, more than 1,800 employees of the Navantia Auxiliary Industry and more than 3,000 indirect employees generated by other suppliers. More than 100 auxiliary companies will be involved.

The programme, the last ship to be delivered in 2024, includes, in addition to the construction, the Life Cycle Support for five years, since the first ship was delivered, with an additional five years option.

On the other hand, the contract also includes the provision of a number of services such as integrated logistical support, operational and maintenance training, the provision of Training and Training Centres for the Control System and Platform Control System for Ships, the Life Cycle Support, and the systems for the maintenance of ships at the Jeddah Naval Base.