Opening of new marinas and increased demand for larger sized yachts evidence of a maturing market
Oman is taking firm steps towards developing its reputation as a premier leisure cruising destination, says Erwin Bamps, Chief Operating Officer of Gulf Craft.
Gulf Craft, who had a presence at the Mussanah Marina Grand Opening event in Oman through its partners OHI Marine, says the Omani market for luxury superyachts is on the rise.
The brand new Mussanah Marina, located 85km off the coast of Muscat, offers 54 quality berths, dock-side support and first class facilities, including boat cleaning, assistance upon arrival and disembarkment and a fuel dock and adds yet another premier berthing facility to Oman’s steadily increasing inventory.
Gulf Craft currently has more boats in Omani marinas than any other single boat and yacht brand and offers a full local service support team in Oman through its partner OHI Marine. Last year, Gulf Craft delivered a Majesty 121 to Oman – the largest-ever Gulf Craft hull to make its way to the country. The Majesty 121 is berthed at the Shangri-La- managed Barr Al Jissah Marina, one of the capital city’s leading marinas.
With The Wave’s recently completed Al Mouj Marina welcoming its first yachts and boats last year, Oman is taking firm steps towards establishing its reputation as a highly desirable yachting and boating destination.
A 1,200km coastline, several high-profile waterfront real estate developments and luxury hospitality offerings, superb diving, snorkeling and fishing opportunities, a dramatic coastline featuring fjords, pristine bays and coves and a slew of new marinas coming online along the Musandam, Sawadi and Salalah coastlines is pushing Oman’s prominence on the yachting circuit higher. Oman is already a preferred berthing destination for yacht-owners from the UAE and this is expected to increase as more space comes online and facilities improve further in the coming years.
“In the past few years we have witnessed healthy demand from the Omani market and have delivered not only an increasing number of pleasure craft but also yachts which is evidence of a maturing clientele,” says Erwin Bamps. “Our clients for superyachts currently extend across the globe, with a growing and more prominent presence in the European and the Middle East region. Our home market of the Gulf continues to be very strong and is being led by new yachting destinations such as Qatar, UAE and now Oman,” he continued.
“Oman’s increased focus on marina development – with space being added to berth super and megayachts – as well as its investment in maintenance and fuelling facilities and waterfront destination development shows serious intent in positioning leisure cruising as a tourism draw,” added Bamps. “The country is ideally positioned to capitalize on stopover traffic from yachts crossing over from the Mediterranean and the Red Sea onto the Indian Ocean islands and beyond to South East Asia,” he added.
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