GCC countries are urged to relax restrictions, to boost yachting industry

UAE-based yacht builder, Gulf Craft has insisted that the Middle East governments should consider easing restrictions on travel between their states in order to boost the region’s tourism industry, and to support the fast-developing yachting and cruise markets.

According to the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA), Dubai received more than 500,000 cruise visitors last year - a number that has swelled due to recent changes in cruise regulations that now allow cruise tourists to obtain a multiple-entry visa for all UAE ports in their itinerary. Given the success of these changes, regional tourism industry members have continued to campaign for a European Schengen-style system that would allow all visitors to the GCC states to enter all states with a single visa.

Mohammed Hussein Al Shaali, chairman of Gulf Craft commented, “The yachting and cruising tourism market is very profitable and beneficial to the wider economy, so regional governments should look at supporting it through easier regulations. At the moment the procedures for moving across the region are very complicated and this is a significant challenge for growing the industry.”

Al Shaali added, “The regional yacht-manufacturing sector also faces significant infrastructure challenges, such as lack of berthing spaces. While interest in yacht-ownership is rising in the UAE and across the GCC, there is a need for businesses to provide related products and services to support the sector.

“To develop the yachting industry, you need to develop the wider industrial base. Other factors like real-estate availability and facilities play their part, but the main issue is having the industry and technology in place to support development.”

For more information, visit Gulf Craft

Superyacht News
March 28, 2024
Tried & Tested - Best Yacht Mattresses: Product Review
Tried & Tested - Best Yacht Mattresses: Product Review

In the realm of maritime luxury, the quest to offer yacht charter guests the perfect night's sleep has become an art form, one which luxury bed and linen supplier, CC Design, has fully committed to.

By Ben Cooling
March 15, 2023
Best Yacht Crew Jackets: Product Review
Best Yacht Crew Jackets: Product Review

A jacket completes any crew member's uniform so it's an important garment to get right. In this Tried & Tested, Sea Design pits eight popular jackets against one another to determine which one is best for superyacht crew in 2023.

By Nathan Bees
April 19, 2023
iAQUA Sea Scooters: Product Review
iAQUA Sea Scooters: Product Review

iAQUA creates high-performance, technologically advanced underwater scooters. In this Tried & Tested, a team of experienced testers have rated and reviewed the AquaDart Pro and AquaDart Nano series to reveal the stand-out iAQUA sea scooter.

By Holly Sanderson

Finished reading? Now find your perfect supplier.

Search our industry-leading directory for over 20,000 superyacht suppliers, providers and marinas.

Search now