Category: News

Online Marketplace YachtFinds.com Launches in The Middle East

The Middle East, a region with over 40,500 registered marine crafts, has officially found its first dedicated online marketplace for boats and yachts. YachtFinds.com allows users in Saudi Arabia, Qatar, UAE, Bahrain, Kuwait, and Oman to list their vessels for sale and charter. Registration for the website is free and allows companies, brokers, dealers, and…
Project Marsa Zayed in Aqaba to Feature Marina and Yacht Club

Project “Marsa Zayed” in Aqaba, one of the Red Sea’s largest investments, was officially underway when Jordan’s Prime Minister Jafar Hassan laid the foundation stone of phase 1. The project, which spans 3.2 million square meters, was developed by MAG Group Holding on behalf of Abu Dhabi Ports Group (AD) and is part of a…
Pardo Yachts Enters Middle East Superyacht Market with Ocean 360

Image: Marcello Veronesi, Sebastian Dumitrescu, Bogdan Borascu, Rok Babarovic. Italian boat builder Pardo Yachts, a division of Cantiere Del Pardo, has announced its partnership with Ocean 360, the exclusive dealer of the shipyard’s boats in the UAE. : “The Middle East holds strategic importance for Pardo Yachts’ global expansion. Partnering with Ocean 360, a trusted…
Trial to Determine Owner of Seized Superyacht AMADEA Begins in U.S Court

Case: US v. M/Y Amadea, 23-cv-09304, US District Court, Southern District of New York (Manhattan). Three years following the seizure of the 106-meter superyacht Amadea, in the wake of the 2022 Russian Invasion of Ukraine, the opening arguments of the evidentiary hearing to determine the true beneficial owner of the vessel took place last week….
Drettmann Yachts Announces Partnership with IR Yachts

German brokerage house Drettmann Yachts has partnered with yacht consultancy company IR Yachts in a move to expand its presence in The Middle East. Drettmann will be locally represented by Mahmoud Itani, the Dubai-based executive who has previously spent 10 years at UAE-based superyacht builder Gulf Craft as a marketing and communications manager, before providing…
Aqaba’s Ayla Marina Awarded 5 Gold Anchor Accreditation

As the Red Sea continues to establish its place as a superyacht destination, another marina in the region receives an accreditation. Last week, Aqaba’s Ayla Marina was awarded a 5 Gold Anchor Accreditation by The Yacht Harbour Association (TYHA) after the completion of the Gold Anchor Assessment. This marks the second award by TYHA to…
Ocean Independence Celebrates The Opening of New Dubai Branch

Brokerage house Ocean Independence has touched down in The Middle East. The firm, which specializes in yacht sales, charter, new build, and management, has announced the opening of its 16th branch at Dubai Harbour Marina, adding to its worldwide roster of offices – with other locations including Monaco, Fort Lauderdale, Athens, and Mumbai. Overseeing operations…
Saudi Red Sea Authority Issues New Licenses to NEOM’s Sindalah Marina & Other Yacht Companies

To continue positioning Saudi Arabia as a global superyacht destination, The Saudi Red Sea Authority (SRSA) has granted 12 new licenses for the purposes of marina construction, leisure marine recreation, and cruise ship operations. Of the permits handed – in out in the past two months – NEOM’s Sindalah Island Marina received a construction license…
Abu Dhabi Introduces 10-Year Golden Visas for Superyacht Owners

Abu Dhabi’s Department of Culture and Tourism has introduced “Golden Quay to Abu Dhabi”, a new initiative aimed at attracting superyacht owners to invest in Abu Dhabi. Under this Golden Visa, vessel owners are offered the opportunity to obtain a 10-year UAE Golden Visa with benefits including a long-term residency and access to Abu Dhabi’s…
Medasia Marine Deliver First X-Shore Boat in the UAE

Boutique superyacht company Medasia Marine has announced the delivery and registration of the Gulf’s first fully electric X Short 1 boat to a UAE client. The X Shore 1, built by Swedish boat builder X Shore, is powered by a 125KW electric motor and uses sustainable materials for its construction. The vessel offers silent and…