New Winter Oasis

for Maritime Luxury

Experience

Abu Dhabi’s Quest to Become

a Global Superyacht Destination

White Paper
NEW WINTER OASIS FOR MARITIME LUXURY EXPERIENCE
ABU DHABI’S QUEST TO BECOME A GLOBAL SUPERYACHT DESTINATION
INTRODUCTION
When one thinks of global superyacht destinations, the
mind is taken immediately to one of only a dozen long-
established locales, however, that thinking is quickly
becoming outdated. Today, as the number of superyachts
continue to grow, the number of suitable destinations
at which they call also continues to expand in number,
location, and complexity of offering.
The superyacht market, which sits at the apex of the
maritime leisure sector, has not only recovered from the
COVID-19 pandemic, but this rebound has turned into an
outright sales boom. Between January and July of 2021,
113 new yachts over 30 metres in length were sold, while
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Superyachts — those longer than 30 metres in length
— predominantly reside in fewer than a dozen countries
around the world, and they all tend to have similar traits:
wealthy owners, charter companies, maintenance-
intensive operational requirements, and an insatiable
thirst for cruising, among others.
We surveyed experts to learn what the industry looks
for in the ideal destination, in what has become an
increasingly competitive global landscape. We also ran a
comparison with what the world has on offer as opposed
to what Abu Dhabi is creating now, and the findings were
at the same time, we recorded the sale of 257 used yachts
over 30 metres in length.
So, how do superyacht owners and their captains decide
where they will visit, when, and for what duration of time?
To what extent are weather and sea conditions a factor
in determining the destination? How important are the
destination’s maritime infrastructure and related services?
How significant is the location’s legal and regulatory
environment to superyacht owners and operators? And,
finally, to what extent are adjacent social, cultural, and
entertainment elements a contributing factor to the
success of a superyacht destination?
encouraging based on what most global superyacht
owners are looking for in a destination.
Global superyacht experts told us that owners select
superyacht destinations based on four main criteria:
• Favourable seasonal weather and sea conditions;
• Advanced maritime infrastructure and related services;
• Established legal and regulatory environment; and,
• World-class destination incorporating attractive social,
cultural, and entertainment elements.
ABOUT OUR
RESEARCH
We conducted telephone and video call interviews with
global experts in the superyacht industry. Our survey
questions focused on the decision-making drivers
behind superyacht destination selection.
We wanted to learn what superyacht professionals
want from their ideal superyacht destination and why.
And, from their shared thinking, we hope that others
will benefit from their combined decades of experience
in the industry, fully appreciating what is required for
success and what determines its likelihood.
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ABU DHABI’S QUEST TO BECOME A GLOBAL SUPERYACHT DESTINATION
6 MONTHS
SEASONAL WEATHER COMPARISON
5°C
Europe
November December January
Europe 12°C 10°C 7°C
UAE 30°C 25°C 23°C
FAVOURABLE SEASONAL WEATHER
AND SEA CONDITIONS
New Owners Mean New Seasons
Historically, the world’s superyachts, though based in only
a dozen or so countries, have found themselves in the
Mediterranean Sea during the summer months and in the
Caribbean Sea during the winter months.
Mediterranean Sea port destinations of note include
Marbella and Ibiza in Spain, Capri and Portofino in
Italy, Saint-Tropez and Antibes in France, and Monaco.
The summer season can be considered May through
September with temperatures ranging from 22-32
degrees Celsius. Mediterranean winters are cool and wet
with rougher seas.
Caribbean Sea port destinations popular with the
superyacht industry include Antigua, St. Vincent & The
Grenadines, St. Lucia, St. Barthelemy, the British Virgin
Islands, and the Bahamas. The winter season can be
considered December through April with temperatures
ranging from 24-32 degrees Celsius. Caribbean summers
often bring hurricanes and stronger, windier weather and,
thus, rough seas.
We learned that over the last decade superyacht
ownership has increased considerably in Asia, and Middle
East owners have begun to rethink how and where they
spend time on their vessels. So, too, have many European
owners. There is a very solid reason for this shift in
thinking: seasonality is an important concept when
25°C
UAE
February March April
8°C 13°C 16°C
24°C 26°C 31°C
one begins to contemplate Abu Dhabi as a global
superyacht destination.
For superyacht owners, the geostrategic benefit of the
UAE’s capital city and its seemingly infinite kilometres
of inland waterways and coastline is that it sits squarely
in a region which enjoys, not only more than 330 days
of sunshine per year, but also pleasant high season
temperatures which range from 20-32 degrees
Celsius eight months of the year. While its low season
temperatures, which reach over 32 degrees Celsius, can
be an adjustment for most visitors, they do also mean
that vessels do not need to be lifted from the water and
stored at great expense to the owners, or sailed to far off
destinations to prevent icing or hurricane damage, as is
the case in other regions.
Furthermore, sea conditions in the Arabian Gulf do not
ever present a challenge for superyacht captains, with low
winds and calm waters year-round.
“Abu Dhabi sits near some of the world’s most idyllic
anchorage areas one could imagine, and it is not far from
already favoured destinations such as the Maldives and
Seychelles. I would think that Abu Dhabi becomes a
definite stop for every large superyacht owner within
the next five years. It just makes so much sense
from both an entertainment and maintenance
perspective,” said one industry expert.
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ABU DHABI’S QUEST TO BECOME A GLOBAL SUPERYACHT DESTINATION
ADVANCED MARITIME INFRASTRUCTURE
AND RELATED SERVICES
Marinas and Shipyards Key to Happy Customers
Time and again, we were told that superyacht owners
are drawn to destinations with infrastructure and related
services that will support them. But what exactly does
that mean?
Any discussion about maritime infrastructure and related
services must begin with a discussion about international
airports and hotels because, in the absence of these two
critical elements, it becomes almost impossible for owners
and crews of superyachts to move in and out of countries.
In this regard, Abu Dhabi is quite a unique global
competitor. With the possible exceptions of Nice in France
or Ft. Lauderdale in the United States, it is difficult to
think of a superyacht destination that enjoys Abu Dhabi’s
accessibility, especially considering that the Abu Dhabi
International Airport is situated within 10 kilometres or 14
minutes by car, and the Dubai International Airport within
126 kilometres or 84 minutes by car.
With respect to hotel accommodation, Abu Dhabi offers
owners of the world’s very best, including the world-
famous Emirates Palace Hotel, now managed by the
Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group, which operates one of the
city’s two, full-service superyacht marinas. Specifically,
the Emirates Palace Hotel’s marina can accommodate
a single vessel of up to 140 metres in length or multiple
superyachts of lesser sizes. Yas Marina, home of the
world-famous Abu Dhabi Grand Prix Formula One
race, can host 38 vessels of 40-60 metres within the
marina’s bounds, and five 90 metre vessels outside of
the marina along a 525-metre-long pontoon. During
the Formula Grand Prix, Yas Marina hosts over 60 boats
over 40 metres in length. In addition, there are numerous
picturesque anchorage areas available throughout the
Emirate, all of which are close to recreational destinations,
amenities, and service locations for vessel maintenance.
“What captains and owners want in a superyacht
destination is solid infrastructure: shipyards that can do
serious work, and the knowledge that manufacturers are
in-country to support your needs,” said one respondent.
There are around 100 superyacht refit yards around the
world, and in 2020, they jointly hosted close to 1,500
superyacht calls. Work on the yachts ranged from
relatively short maintenance periods (close to two-
thirds of the calls) to full refits (close to a third), with the
remainder mainly concerning warranty work.
In this regard, Abu Dhabi is well positioned to host
superyachts requiring maintenance over the summer
months thanks to partnerships with the likes of Abu Dhabi
Shipbuilders and Al Masaood Shipyards, which offer
world-class services, including vessel maintenance, refit,
or survey work.
Abu Dhabi Ship Building company, for example,
is one major shipyard that specializes in building,
maintenance, repair, and refitting. With more than 25
years of experience, it operates one of the region’s
most experienced shipyards and deploys the latest
technologies to extend the lifetimes of vessels while
lowering overall lifecycle costs. In terms of its capabilities,
it employs more than 900 certified staff across a shipyard
that is approximately 300,000 square metres in size, and,
in addition to servicing pleasure craft, it also undertakes
work in support of naval and maritime authorities.
Also, of great importance and comfort to residents
and visiting superyacht owners is the fact that major
marine equipment manufacturers maintain permanent
operations in the UAE. For example, mtu-Solutions (Rolls-
Royce) for propulsion systems, Caterpillar for marine
engines, Volvo-Penta for marine engines and propulsion
solutions, and Radio-Holland for marine electronics are all
operating fully in the country.
Looking into the future, AD Maritime is aware that there is
more work to do to further Abu Dhabi’s offering when it
comes to the type of specialised maintenance, enhanced
fuelling, and hospitality services, required by the
superyachting community. AD Maritime is working closely
with all its public and private sector stakeholders to
plan for and develop the needed infrastructure
to help fulfil the Emirate’s goal of becoming a
major global superyachting destination.
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ABU DHABI’S QUEST TO BECOME A GLOBAL SUPERYACHT DESTINATION
ESTABLISHED LEGAL AND
REGULATORY ENVIRONMENT
The Fewer the Complications, the Better
Moving superyachts in and out of regulated waters is not
a simple task, as any owner or captain will readily attest.
So, what makes one destination different from another in
this regard?
To make the navigation within Abu Dhabi’s waterways
even more user friendly, safe, and secure, Abu Dhabi
recently launched the first comprehensive maritime safety
mapping of all waterways within the Emirate. The maps
identify ideal anchorage areas for superyachts and leisure
craft, zones for motorised and non-motorised craft, speed
limits, and point out areas with restricted access. The
maps are available on AD Maritime’s digital portal, and via
a dedicated fully interactive navigational app, Al Nalia.
Furthermore, the UAE, and Abu Dhabi in particular, have
made great strides in the last few years to improve its
legal and regulatory framework in support of superyacht
owners, many of whom are not resident full-time in
the country.
“The ability to have a crew in the UAE with renewable six-
month work visas is a huge step forward, and has made an
enormous impact,” said one respondent.
“In addition, regulations to ease cruising around the
Emirate of Abu Dhabi’s many beautiful waterways have
opened entirely new possibilities for superyacht owners.
Anchorages for this size of boat were not possible even a
few years ago, and now they are, which means that Abu
Dhabi can be the region’s leader in eco-friendly yachting.”
Looking ahead, AD Maritime is aware that further
engagement with Government and private sector
partners is needed to streamline the inward clearance and
inter-Emirate movement of vessels, thereby generating a
more flexible process.
AD Ports Group will continue to lead the effort to support
environmentally sustainable superyachting within the
Emirate and around the world.
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ABU DHABI’S QUEST TO BECOME A GLOBAL SUPERYACHT DESTINATION
WORLD-CLASS SOCIAL, CULTURAL,
AND ENTERTAINMENT ELEMENTS
Owners Visit for a Reason
With the gradual re-opening of global travel, amid today’s
COVID- challenged world, there has been a renewed focus
on destinations with demonstrated social, cultural, and
entertainment attractions. For superyacht owners, being
able to combine their love of cruising with their passion
for, say, the arts, sporting and boating events, and live
entertainment, quickly becomes a compelling proposition
for any aspiring superyacht destination.
Mediterranean summer events begin in May with the
Cannes Film festival in France and the Monaco Grand
Prix Formula One race, turning to the Ultra Europe
Music Festival in Split, Croatia and the Nice Jazz Festival
in France in July. August is notable for La Biennale in
Venice, Italy. September is a celebration of superyachting
with the Cannes Yachting Festival in France, the Genoa
International Boat Show in Italy, and, finally, the Monaco
Yacht Show, perhaps the highlight to bookend the
summer season.
By contrast, Caribbean winter events are almost entirely
about competitive sailboat racing and related social
activities, we were told. The season begins in earnest
each Christmas and New Year break with the elite of the
superyacht fraternity gathering in St. Barth’s, arguably
the region’s most exclusive island, for a week of high-end
shopping, fine dining, and nonstop nightlife. Competitive
racing begins 31 December each year in Antigua and
is quickly followed by long-established regattas in
Barbados, the British Virgin Islands, St. Maarten, St.
Thomas, St. Croix, and then back to St. Barth’s for the
annual late April Les Voiles De St. Barth Richard Mille, a
five-day festival of racing across diverse and challenging
coastal courses.
Abu Dhabi presents superyacht owners with world-class
social, cultural, sports, and entertainment offerings on
both a year-round and seasonal basis. The winter high
season begins in November with the opening of Abu Dhabi
Art, the annual fair begun in 2009 that takes place on
Saadiyat Island, where the Louvre Abu Dhabi now stands,
and soon the Zayed National Museum and Guggenheim
Abu Dhabi will open, adding further gravitas to the capital.
The Abu Dhabi International Boat Show also takes place in
November, drawing thousands of enthusiasts from around
the region and the world each year.
In early December, Etihad Airways’ Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
Formula One race takes place directly adjacent to the
much-televised Yas Marina, which is visually stunning,
particularly at night with its W Abu Dhabi — Yas Island
Hotel awash in changing colours. Also in December, the
Mubadala World Tennis Championship plays host to the
top six men’s and women’s players in the world for a
three-day, star-studded celebration of the racquet sport.
January brings the annual Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship
tournament. The event, which attracts the world’s top
golfers is scheduled to be played at Yas Links Abu Dhabi
in 2022. It is currently ranked as the 48th best golf course
in the world, according to the prestigious Golf Digest top
100 ranking.
In addition to major annual events, Abu Dhabi is also
blessed with untouched coastal desert beauty, which
is rather unique on the global superyachting circuit.
Specifically, the Emirate offers pristine marine protected
areas and a collection of picturesque islands, especially
those within its western region. Notable highlights include
Sir Bani Yas Island, which features a game farm, cruise
beach and mangroves; and, Bu Tinah Island, which is
home to families of dugongs, hawksbill turtles, dolphins
and other sea life. Abu Dhabi also offers a compelling
combination of luxury hotels, hospitality venues, fine
dining, shopping, desert adventure, and crew amenities,
all found within one of the safest jurisdictions in the world.
“Beyond all of Abu Dhabi’s museums, attractions and
events, there is the hospitality of the people. The Abu
Dhabi people are warm and inviting, and the visitors here
are from everywhere in the world, including more than
100 countries. Abu Dhabi is truly a global commercial and
cultural capital on par with any city in the world, and
that always makes me feel very welcome when we
call here,” said one superyacht owner.
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ABU DHABI’S QUEST TO BECOME A GLOBAL SUPERYACHT DESTINATION
CONCLUSION
The manufacturing and sales of superyachts have
continued unabated over the last three years
through 2021 and into 2022, and there are now 5,325
superyachts on the world’s waterways, divided
between 4,492 motor yachts and 833 sailing yachts.
Each year, around 150 superyachts are completed,
representing a total value of over €4 billion.
Where those luxury crafts choose to find themselves
is largely down to the pulling power of the ports vying
for their attention — and related investment dollars.
We learned that superyacht owners are drawn to
destinations that provide favourable weather and
sea conditions, advanced maritime infrastructure and
related services, an established legal and regulatory
environment, and world-class social, cultural, sporting
and entertainment elements.
We concluded that Abu Dhabi has quite a promising
future as a major superyacht centre, for as one
respondent told us candidly: “We have found that Abu
Dhabi is quickly becoming a must visit superyacht
destination; it is a place where we want to spend
more time, even if it is not perfect yet. It ticks many
of the boxes already, and the authorities are always
making things faster, easier, and better for owners
and our captains to choose to spend time there. That’s
important when you are deciding where to go next,
where to send your boat and your team.”
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