Cannes, Genoa & Monaco Set The Stage for The Middle East market
The highlights of the European boat shows, Feadship partners with Qatar, and Dubai introduces the Dock and Dine scheme to promote yacht tourism.
How the European boat show trifecta shaped the region’s leisure marine ambitions
The Cannes Yachting Festival, which has long positioned itself as the starting gun for the year’s nautical calendar, kicked off a month of high-wattage events for an industry that has been experiencing lean times for the better part of the year. Geopolitical strife and the imposition of tariffs by the United States have coated the decisions of buyers, who are hesitant or choosing to hold off on any purchases until there is stability. According to the Superyacht Times Monaco Yacht Show Market Report, new build sales slumped by 10% from January to July 2025, compared to the same period in the previous year, while the used-superyacht segment has remained consistent, lending credence to the declarations of a market slowdown.
So when the festival premiered at Vieux Port & Port Canto to a 5.8 percent increase in exhibitors, an increase in attendance, with 56,000 visitors, and an uptick of buyer activity, it provided a sense of renewed, contagious optimism which was carried over to the rest of the events, and more so, served as a signpost to where the market will be headed for the rest of the season.
The same can be said for another September fixture: the Genoa International Boat Show, back in its 65th iteration, which featured a fleet of 1,000 boats and exhibitors from 45 countries, and drew a crowd of 124,248 visitors, a 2.8 percent increase from the previous year. While rounding out the month was the Monaco Yacht Show, the spectacle which emanated from Port Hercule and brought with it a flurry of premieres and announcements. This European triumvirate has transformed into a platform to not only showcase builders and designers, but also carry a potency that can promote the merits of regions establishing themselves as yachting destinations, and the Middle East was no exception.
Several brands have attended the shows to represent the yachting ambitions of Dubai, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar. At Cannes, UAE leader Gulf Craft shared details on its expansion, announcing a new factory in the Maldives for the construction of the Majesty 60 and Majesty 65, and provided an update on the Super Yacht Service Centre, which is set to launch later this year in Ajman. Along with multiple sales, the group continued its Euro tour with a showcase of the Majesty 100 Terrace at the Monaco Yacht Show, and revealed plans to premiere the Majesty 160 at next year’s event.
Similarly, Monaco has become a platform to establish emerging brands from the region. Romeo Marine, a Dubai-based builder, arrived at Port Hercule for the first time, unveiling Romeo 55, the 54-meter yacht currently going through sea trials and set for delivery at the beginning of 2026. A second project, Romeo 60, is currently in the keel laying phase.
Moving from the new build sector to refit and maintenance, Qatar’s Marsa Port brought forth a sizable development. Qatar Free Zones Authority took to the Monaco stage to announce that it had partnered with Dutch powerhouse Feadship to establish the area as a key player in the yachting sphere. The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between Feadship Chief Commercial Officer Bas Nederpelt and QFZ Chief Executive Officer Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamad bin Faisal Al Thani sees the shipyard taking on an advisory role, providing expertise to support the yard’s maintenance, repair, and refit capabilities. The Qatar Yacht Yard at last year’s Qatar Boat Show in Doha.
Meanwhile, the Saudi Tourism Authority’s participation at the Monaco show saw the launch of the “Super Yacht Arabia” campaign, created to highlight the Kingdom’s cruising offers and the Red Sea’s investment in infrastructure and regulations to welcome foreign-flagged vessels to the country as an alternative winter destination.
What are the takeaways to come out of this month’s boat shows? At a time where share of superyacht owners of yachts over 40 meters from The Middle East, has decreased to 10.8%, according to the SYT report, the happenings of the three events addressed the need for expansion of refit and service centres, in the region, the investment in infrastructure to accommodate vessels through establishing marina networks, and the introduction of new, innovative products that may encourage owners to buy local. Looking ahead, the rest of the year will bring the Abu Dhabi International Boat Show and the Qatar Boat Show, both of which are expected to bring further developments to the market.
Dubai Maritime Authority Promotes Yacht Tourism with the Launch of the “Dock and Dine” Scheme
The Dubai Maritime Authority (DMA), in partnership with the Dubai Department of Economy (DET), has launched “Dock and Dine,” an initiative that allows yacht owners, captains, and crew members to gain access to services from 20 of Dubai’s marinas.
Read more here.
Azimut|Benetti Group Financial Projection Shows Growth of the Middle East Region
Azimut|Benetti Group has announced its fiscal projections for the 2024/25 nautical season, forecasting €1.5 billion in revenue, a 15 per cent increase from the previous season.
According to the report shared by the Italian company, the group has secured €2.5 billion in orders since January 2025, which is expected to sustain production through 2029.
Read more here.
Feadship and Qatar Free Zones Sign MoU to Develop Marsa Port’s Superyacht Facility
Qatar Free Zones Authority has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Dutch builder Feadship to develop and advance Qatar’s Marsa Port prospects to build a superyacht destination in Umm Alhoul.
The agreement, signed at this year’s Monaco Yacht Show, between Feadship chief commercial officer Bas Nederpelt and QFZ chief executive officer Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamad bin Faisal Al Thani, sees Feadship assuming an advisory role, which will provide expertise on enhancing maintenance, repair, and refit facilities, in addition to consulting on yacht design, marine infrastructure, and sector engagement.
Read more here.
Dubai Records 149% Increase in Yacht Arrivals for H1 2025
The Dubai Maritime Authority shared new insights on yacht traffic in the Emirate for the first half of the year.
According to the DMA, yacht arrivals saw a 149% increase, recording 97 foreign-flagged vessels between January and June 2025, compared to 39 boats in the same period last year. This underscores the rise of the Emirate as a superyacht hub and an alternative winter destination.
Read more here.