UAE-based shipyard Gulf Craft has announced the opening of a new purpose-built yacht manufacturing training centre at its Umm Al Quwain shipyard.
New recruits and existing staff members will receive over 3000 hours of training annually, learning the ropes on all of Gulf Craft’s brands: Majesty, Nomad, Oryx, and SilverCat.
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Located within the 462,000-square-foot production facility, the center covers 2,152 square feet and accommodates 30 trainees per week in the full-function classroom, six workshops, and three CAD labs.
New additions to the shipyard earn an internal first-level certificate after completing 100 supervised shop-floor hours, covering the centre’s core disciplines: Fibreglass & Composite Application, Marine Systems & Smart Electrical Installations, Precision Luxury Interiors & Finishing, • Mechanical Fitting & Stainless-Steel Fabrication, • Digital Design, CAD, CAM & Production Optimisation.
In May 2025, Gulf Craft announced the reappointment of Erwin Bamps as CEO, previously assuming the role from 2014-2018. Bamps joined the company in 2002 as Executive Manager. During his first tenure, Bamps was responsible for a period of significant growth for the Gulf Craft, expanding the brand to international markets, scaling production, and weathering challenging times such as the 2009 global financial crisis.
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At last year’s Qatar Boat Show, the company announced the construction of a second 100,000-square-foot facility in Ajman, UAE. The facility will offer services for carpentry, upholstery, painting, fabrication, mechanical, and electrical support, complemented by an on-site spare parts shop.