The Middle Eastern waters of the Arabian Gulf have emerged as a prime destination for the elite world of mega-yachts and luxury leisure travel. With billions being invested in ultra-luxury maritime developments like Saudi Arabia's NEOM and The Red Sea Project, the region is rapidly evolving into one of the most exciting new playgrounds for the superyacht set.
This surge in demand from affluent yacht owners and charterers seeking new exclusive cruising grounds has been a key driver behind a pioneering partnership between two prestigious maritime services firms - Kanoo Yacht Services and Italy's San Giorgio Yachting.
Launched under the banner "San Giorgio Yachting / Kanoo Yacht Services", the joint venture marries San Giorgio's expertise in Mediterranean yachting with Kanoo's formidable regional network spanning the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain, Oman and beyond.
"There is immense potential for yachting tourism in the Middle East with its stunning cruising areas and the development of world-class marina facilities," said John Drinkwater, CEO of Kanoo Shipping which oversees the yacht services division. "By partnering with the prestigious San Giorgio brand, we can deliver a truly seamless end-to-end service for yacht owners and clients as they cruise between the Mediterranean and Middle East."
Angelo Marcantonio, Commercial Manager for Kanoo Yacht Services, echoed that sentiment: "Our clients in this ultra-luxury segment have exceptionally high standards. Through this partnership, we can provide them with the premium services, support and local knowledge they require, no matter which beautiful destination they choose to visit."
Those premium services run the gamut from expediting marine paperwork and clearances to arranging high-end provisioning, equipment procurement, itinerary planning, and 24/7 technical assistance from experienced yacht professionals. The goal is ensuring every aspect of the yachting experience is delivered flawlessly.
On the Mediterranean side, San Giorgio brings over a decade of experience supporting yacht operations through its bases in iconic locations like Genoa and Portofino. The firm was recently acquired by IL Investimenti Group to accelerate its growth.
"After establishing San Giorgio as a leader for yacht services across Italy and the Mediterranean, we wanted to extend our white-glove offerings to new frontiers," said Fulvia Linari, Managing Director of San Giorgio Yachting who will oversee the Mediterranean side of operations. "The Middle East is an exciting emerging destination, and Kanoo Yacht Services, under the Kanoo Shipping umbrella, was the ideal partner to work with given their unmatched local presence and reputation."
From Saudi Arabia's ultra-luxurious Red Sea developments to the cosmopolitan marinas of Dubai and Abu Dhabi, the Gulf region is rapidly enhancing its facilities to accommodate the mega-yacht lifestyle. This offers globetrotting superyacht owners enticing new cruising grounds to explore beyond the traditional Mediterranean hotspots.
With their combined resources and strengths, Kanoo Yacht
Services and San Giorgio Yachting are poised to be leaders in delivering a
seamless world-class yachting experience to valued clients across these two
hallmark yachting regions and beyond.
