Author: The Maritime Observer
-
AMAALA and Shura Island Marinas granted licenses by Saudi Red Sea Authority
AMAALA and Shura Island, two of Red Sea Global’s marinas located on Saudi Arabia’s northwestern coast, have received Global Operating Licenses. The permits, granted by the Saudi Red Sea Authority, recognize the facilities’ high standards of marina operations and environmental vigilance, and their readiness to welcome yachts. RELATED: Saudi Arabia establishes yachting network; 278 shared…
-
Abu Dhabi, Dubai, and Ras Al Khaimah establish “UAE Yachting Alliance” at Monaco Yacht Show
Three yachting markets in the Gulf are coming together to strengthen the UAE’s position as a leisure marine destination. Abu Dhabi, Dubai, and Ras Al Khaimah have launched the “UAE Yachting Alliance,” an alliance to showcase the Emirates as an interconnected superyacht destination. Announced during the 2026 Monaco Yacht Show, the partnership aims to establish…
-
Saudi Arabia establishes yachting network; 278 shared berths
Red Sea Global, the operator behind Saudi Arabia’s largest yachting developments, has introduced a “Yacht Network,” aiming to bring together its marinas and yacht clubs. The first two properties included in the program, AMAALA Marina and Shura Island Marina, will combine resources to streamline a yacht’s experience of cruising the Red Sea. The scheme brings…
-
Red Sea Yacht Show to take place in 2027; Sela formalizes partnership with Tahaluf Events at Monaco Yacht Show
Saudi Arabia is setting the stage for Jeddah’s first superyacht-focused show. At the 2026 Monaco Yacht Show, events company Sela signed an agreement with Tahaluf Events Limited to produce the inaugural Red Sea Yacht Show in Jeddah. Jeddah Yacht Club and Marina, a property under Sela’s holdings, will play host to the event. The marina…
-
Saudi Arabia to launch superyacht maintenance center in Jeddah
Sela and Icon Saudi have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to build a superyacht repair and maintenance facility in Jeddah. The MoU, signed during this year’s Monaco Yacht Show, put forth a framework for the two parties to develop the facility. READ: “Shoulder seasons are the real appeal:” How Jeddah Yacht Club is putting…
-
IGY Marinas and Tatweer Misr formalize agreement for IL Monte Galala Marina partnership
IGY Marinas and Tatweer Misr have put pen to paper on one of Egypt’s most ambitious superyacht projects. Taking place during the first day of the Monaco Yacht Show, the two parties have signed a strategic agreement in which the marina developer will serve as operator of IL Monte Galala Marina. IL Monte Galala Marina…
-
Aqaba’s Ayla Marina awarded M3 Monaco’s Smart and Sustainable Standards Certification
Ayla Marina, a facility in Aqaba, Jordan, has received the “Sovereign” level of M3 Monaco’s Smart and Sustainable Standards (S3) label. The S3 label, a certification program introduced in July 2026, recognizes sustainability and operational excellence in marinas. NEWSLETTER: An interview with Gulf Craft CEO Erwin Bamps The Red Sea facility was awarded an overall…
-
New marina to launch in Abu Dhabi; part of AED 6 billion development THE WADI
Yas Island has announced the addition of a yacht marina as part of a mega-project in Abu Dhabi. THE WADI, a mixed-use residential development occupying a 104,700-square-meter plot, has an approximate investment of AED six billion. Alongside a yacht marina and waterfront, the project is set to include 3,950 residential units with commercial, sports, and…
-
Dubai now counts 8,415 registered vessels, the DMA shares
According to new figures shared by the Dubai Maritime Authority, the number of vessels registered with the government entity now totals 8,415, with 14,000 active companies operating in Dubai’s leisure marine industry. In a breakdown of the figure, pleasure boats are the dominant category, making up 3,269 vessels, while water sport vessels trail behind at…
-
Tunisia’s rise as a boat manufacturing hub, generating €500 million in 2025
Tunisia is drawing on its deep maritime heritage in a pledge to become a major player in global boat manufacturing. The sector, which created 20,000 jobs last year, was overhauled in 2024 with the installation of Groupement professionnel des industries maritimes, a subdivision of Confédération des Entreprises Citoyennes de Tunisie (CONECT). The reorganization has started…
