UAE-builder Gulf Craft Group will be ringing in the new year with the launch of the Superyacht Service Centre (SYSC), a refit facility based in Ajman, UAE.
INTERVIEW: A Talk With Gulf Craft CEO Erwin Bamps [July 2025 Newsletter]
Taking to the stage at the 2025 SuperYacht Times Gulf Superyacht Summit in Abu Dhabi, Gulf Craft Group CEO Erwin Bamps confirmed the opening date of January 1st 2026.
The launch of SYSC comes at a time when the Middle East is expanding its superyacht refit and repair offerings amid rising demand from owners.
“We got the inquiry more and more to function as a service hub provider and not just as a manufacturer. We have seen numbers of 200 yachts that are expected to come in and visit the region, so we find there is a lack in the market for service centers,” said Bamps.
RELATED: Gulf Craft Announces Plans for New Facility in the UAE
The shipyard announced the 101,120-square-metre facility at the 2024 Qatar Boat Show, with a formal signing ceremony held at this year’s Dubai International Boat Show.
Headed by Captain Patricia Caswell, the center boasts 108,000 square feet of dry dock space, in-water berthing for yachts up to 80 metres in length, and 75 and 600-ton capacity travel lifts. Notably, the facility’s offerings are not limited to Gulf Craft yachts but extend to vessels from any builder.
IN DEPTH ANALYSIS: The Middle East: Your New Refit Destination? [November 2025 Newsletter]
“With this new facility, we’re not just meeting the rising demand for superyacht services; we’re dedicated to providing an exceptional experience for our clients and supporting the growth of a premier yachting community in the region,” said Gulf Craft Chairman Mohammed H. Alshaali