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When Doha, Qatar was announced as the host of the 2022 FIFA World Cup, it also served as an opportunity to elevate the country’s superyacht sector, opening up the market’s potential to transform into a leading luxury destination for boat owners. Alongside the construction of world-class stadiums, the Qatari government invested in building Old Doha Port, a superyacht-friendly marina that welcomed over 20 luxury vessels for the worldwide tournament, including the 111-meter Al Lusail and the 110-meter Anna. In accommodating vessels of this stature, the project proved impressive in ambition and scale. Two years later, Old Doha Port will host the first-ever Qatar Boat Show, ushering in the beginning of a new wave of superyacht tourism for the Gulf State. The country aims to create a touristic maritime destination, recognizing the input foreign-flagged superyachts can have in driving economic development. For a nation already robust in its domestic yacht ownership and holds advantageous all-year-round weather, Qatar’s focus on investing in infrastructure, regulation, and destination appeal is paramount.
Before Qataris became notorious for luxury sea travel, the boating culture in Qatar stemmed from a storied sea-faring history when boats were utilized for fishing and shuttling between islands. Eventually, the rise of global superyacht ownership included clientele from the Gulf State in a sizable manner. Today, Qatari nationals own at least 52 superyachts over 30 meters, according to The Superyacht Times’ Gulf Superyacht Market Report, denoting strong purchasing powers in Qatari culture. Attributed to this is an increased purchasing power in line with the country’s ascent to becoming a player in the region’s economy. Starting from the late 1990s, largely due to the vast deposits of natural gas and oil, Qatar stands as one of the world’s wealthiest nations, with the fourth highest GDP per capita. This allows the opportunity to make purchases of luxury assets, such as superyachts, possible. It was only logical that the country began to invest in the requisite infrastructure needed to foster the emerging yachting community.
Redeveloping the former Port of Doha, the government-owned Old Doha Port is a 450-berth marina spanning 800,000 square meters, 53 of which accommodate yachts up to 160 meters, the first in Qatar and one of the select few in The Middle East to operate at a capacity of this size. “During COVID, Qatar has built a lot of infrastructure, Old Doha Port certainly has big berths, spaces in there and downtown location,” said Captain Steve Corbett of JLS Yachts, a superyacht agency operating in The Middle East and the Indian Ocean and has processed over 100 entry/exit permits and 85 boat registrations in the region alone.
Alongside Old Doha Port, six prominent marinas make up Qatar’s maritime infrastructure. Among them is The Pearl, an island with three marinas accommodating berths up to 60 meters in length, while Lusail Marina welcomes boats in the 40-meter range. The other marinas in the state are provided by luxury hotels, including the Ritz Carlton, Four Seasons, and the Doha Marriott. In total, Qatar offers 1,877 berths, 108 of which accommodate superyachts between 40 and 160 meters in length. There are plans to install a further 400 berths to meet the growing demand. As Old Doha Port was the first to provide berthing options for vessels above 50 meters, it additionally brought change from a regulatory standpoint as well.
The accessibility and ease of a superyacht’s entry and exit are key tenets for making a flourishing yachting destination. For Qatar, the arrival of Old Doha Port brought modernization to the rules. In 2020, the port was announced as the primary entry and exit point for superyachts entering Qatar, streamlining operations from the previous arduous regime where visiting vessels were required to enter through the northern part of the country. Earlier this year, Old Doha Port entered into a strategic partnership with the aforementioned marinas, aiming to enhance the experience of yacht owners and boost luxury marine tourism in the Gulf State by sharing resources and expertise.
While these developments signify progression, the Gulf State has the opportunity for further harmonization if creating destination appeal is the goal, and officials should look no further than a neighboring Gulf State. “To us, if they could be in line with the UAE or with Dubai especially, it’s very good for superyachts, it’s easy and welcoming. There is no use having a boat come for a few days. You want it there as long as possible. Spend money, get work done, time for crew change, go shopping, have excursions” said Captain Steve Corbett who, with JLS, played a pivotal role in working with Dubai’s tourism authority to ease the regulations for foreign flags visiting Dubai. “We can clear a superyacht in 30 minutes, but the same superyacht to go to Abu Dhabi is 30 hours,” he said. To boost international tourism, Dubai has introduced significant developments, including the decision to forgo the 5% tax applied to any visiting foreign flag operating on a visa, introduce six-month permits for crew of any nationality, and six-month renewable cruising permits. Dubai’s achievements in the superyacht realm only make Qatar’s success more propitious. “They are coming to the UAE, so they are already committing to the Gulf and not proceeding straight to the Far East. The moorage is good and the city has a lot to offer but you have to attract those yachts. More events and yachting-related activities.” said Captain Corbett. For these yachting-related activities, this week’s Qatar Boat Show is a good place to start.
This is where the next fleet of boats will grace Old Doha Port, as 95 vessels are scheduled for the first edition of the Qatar Boat Show. The event, announced in March 2024, expects to welcome over 20,000 visitors and nearly 500 exhibitors and brands, The lineup for this year’s show includes international brands Feadship, Oceanco, Heesen Yachts, Sunreef Yachts, and Sunseeker. In addition, UAE-based builder Gulf Craft will be exhibiting vessels from their Majesty, Nomad, Oryx, SilverCat, and Silver Craft lines.
Establishing new cruising grounds is key in the evolution of the superyacht industry. That’s why the Middle East is growing into a popular destination among superyacht owners. As the role of the leisure maritime sector for economies is well understood, the scope for Qatar to contribute further to the larger global yacht market and join burgeoning neighboring states Dubai and Saudi Arabia can be achieved through cultivating a yachting community. Coupled with the requisite infrastructure, the facilitation of more accessible rules, and investment in ancillary yachting-related events, these factors will make it an easy choice to add Qatar to any itinerary list in the near offing.