A UAE company has launched the world’s largest superyacht made from composite materials.
Gulf Craft's flagship superyacht, Majesty 175, is 54 metres in length with a beam of 9.6 metres and was produced in the company's boatyard in Umm Al Quwain.
The sleek luxury yacht rental dubai with its wood-panelled interior, was built using composite materials such as carbon fibre and vinyl ester. The shallow draft also enables close beach access.
It has a five-metre infinity pool, a lounge that can be converted to a sun deck, seven staterooms and accommodation for 10 crew members.
The yacht charter dubai was launched by Sheikh Mansoor bin Mohammed, chairman of Dubai Sports Council, during its world premiere at Dubai Harbour.
Sheikh Mansoor bin Mohammed toured the superyacht as it ventured into the Arabian Gulf, demonstrating its top-notch stability and manoeuvrability on the high sea. Dubai Media Office
Sheikh Mansoor bin Mohammed toured the superyacht as it ventured into the Arabian Gulf, demonstrating its top-notch stability and manoeuvrability on the high sea. Dubai Media Office
The yacht, which was unveiled late last year, took four years to build and has completed a series of sea trials.
Superyachts are luxury vessels that are at least 24 metres long and are manned by a professional crew.
Also referred to as megayachts, the vessels have become popular among wealthy tourists during the pandemic.
Dubai Harbour Marina has welcomed Gulf Craft, the Emirates’ based yacht manufacturers to be the first to experience the marina’s services and facilities. All photos: Dubai Harbour Marina
Dubai Harbour Marina has welcomed Gulf Craft, the Emirates’ based yacht charter in dubai manufacturers to be the first to experience the marina’s services and facilities. All photos: Dubai Harbour Marina
Mohammed Al Shaali, chairman of Gulf Craft, said the launch indicated the appeal of the country as a major yachting hub.
“Gulf Craft invested nearly four years of effort in building this vessel, quicker than the normal timeframe, despite the challenges of the pandemic,” he said.
"With the regional premiere of the Majesty 175 at Dubai Harbour, we are reiterating the appeal of the country as a full-fledged yachting destination."
Mr Al Shaali said it demonstrated the company’s capability to manufacture world-class vessels.
The lightweight material will aid cruising in low-draft waters, allowing for quicker beach access, a key element sought by yacht rental dubai enthusiasts.
Gulf Craft has built more than 10,000 yachts and boats, ranging in length from 9.5 to more than 50 metres, at its premises in the UAE and the Maldives.
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Ahmed Al Khaja, chief executive officer of Dubai Festivals and Retail Establishment, said the launch of a superyacht during a pandemic showed the country’s ability to remain at the forefront of the world’s recommended safe travel destinations.
“The new state-of-the-art vessel highlights Dubai’s position as a leading hub for cruise tourism and the global maritime industry, as well as the UAE’s proven track record in the boat building sector based on innovation and excellence,” he said.
The yacht rental in dubai was docked at Dubai Harbour, which has not yet officially opened, although several privately owned yachts are moored off it.
When fully operational, the harbour will have 1,100 berths for yachts of up to 160 metres in length.
The vast marina, near Bluewaters Island and The Palm, Jumeirah, is managed by luxury marina group D-Marin Dubai.
It will have restaurants, hotels, residences, a crew club, independent fuel pumps and a helipad.
Dubai Harbour’s cruise liner terminals will have a combined floor area of almost 2.8 square kilometres.
Dubai earned a reputation for delivering luxury for those with cash to splash years ago, but amid the Covid-19 pandemic, a new mode of travel has become popular -- yacht rental price dubai .
"It's more private, you're with only family and friends, and it's the ideal outing during a pandemic," said Nada Naeem, a 36-year-old Saudi citizen living in Dubai.
Dozens of white yachts are seen every day zipping through the emirate's bays, canals and islands, while others are docked along the coast in Gulf waters overlooking the skyline of high-rise towers.
"You feel like you can breathe," Naeem said, adding that she had not left Dubai since the pandemic began last year. "It's like you've travelled."
Unlike so many parts of the world, Dubai opened its doors wide open to tourists just a few months after the coronavirus pandemic took hold last year.
Life in the Gulf emirate -- one of the first destinations to welcome visitors again last July -- returned to largely normal, with restaurants and hotels up and running and beaches open to the public.
The UAE, made up of seven emirates including Dubai, launched an energetic vaccination drive with some of the highest inoculation rates worldwide, and continues to enforce strict rules on wearing masks and social distancing.
But some are fearful of overseas travel, and wary of crowded places where the risk of catching Covid-19 is higher.
- 'Secure and safe' -
For those who can afford the price tag, yachts are seen as a safer bet.
"When they eased the lockdown... people preferred something secure and safe with regulations," said Mohammed al-Sayyed, manager of Royal Star Yachts charter company.
"We are providing them with the proper customer service, following all the rules, sanitising the yacht rental price dubai."
For now, yachts are allowed to operate at 70 percent capacity.
The company has a fleet that includes a 141-foot (42-metre) yacht able to host 80 passengers at full capacity -- if you can afford the $4,900 price for a three-hour cruise.
Charter companies said they have seen an increased interest in yachting after coronavirus measures eased, especially among those who want to spend time with friends and family.
"People want to do sightseeing, cruising," said Sayyed, who has been in the yacht charter in dubai industry for eight years. "They want to relax."
Cheaper yachts to hire include the company's 90-foot "Big Daddy" -- capable of normally carrying 65 people, at $1,225 for three hours -- down to smaller boats.
Some in Dubai said that when the price was split between a group, the cost was not as steep as it seemed at first.
"It can actually be more affordable than an all-inclusive brunch at a restaurant," said Naeem.
And while some groups have been busted by authorities flouting the rules and slapped with hefty fines, most excursions run smoothly.
Sayyed insisted his company follows all the rules and that even on the most luxurious "party yachts", there are Covid-19 regulations still in place, including the need for passengers to socially distance from each other and wear masks.
- Beach to boat takeaways -
Dubai, known for its skyscrapers and mega-projects, boasts the most diverse economy in the oil-reliant Gulf region and has built a reputation as a financial, commercial and tourism hub.
Tourism, which drew some 16 million visitors a year before the coronavirus hit, took a severe downturn in the first few months of the pandemic.
But a flood of arrivals since the beginning of the year has regenerated the industry, and helped many business activities recover.