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 to bear fruit. According to a new report by France24, the country built 2000 units in 2025, delivering €500 million, says Montassar Dhiaf, President of the Nautical Industry Trade Association.
Yet several headwinds remain to the country’s efforts to establish a well-rounded superyacht destination. Tunisia’s maritime infrastructure remains underdeveloped, with six marinas offering a combined 3200 berths.
One of these, Gammarth Marina, currently has 3 out of 4 boats of Tunisian origin. The Marina caters to yachts up to 45 meters in length. Marina Bezerte, the country’s biggest nautical property, operates at a capacity of 800 berths for vessels up to 150 meters in length.
With the aim of creating Tunisian brands, Dhiaf emphasizes the country’s ambitions to establish its presence in the Mediterranean, capitalizing on the area’s popular fishing activity.
Alongside Tunisian interest, French businesses are also investing in its boating market. Bali Catamarans, a brand under the family-owned French company Catana Group, operates a site in Tunisia. French builder Group Beneteau acquired a majority stake in Tunisian yard Magic Yacht in 2023.