JEDDAH – The UAE has been named among the list of the world's top 10 superyacht-building nations in the recently released 2014 Global Order Book, a report issued annually by the Boat International Group, claiming the ninth place with 18 yachts over 24m currently under construction in the country. Enabling the UAE to sail into this prestigious listing with 15 of the country's 18 superyachts on its order books is UAE-based yacht builder Gulf Craft, which also clinched a top 10 ranking among the world's superyacht-building shipyards. Mohammed Hussein Al Shaali, Chairman of Gulf Craft, noted that the company has achieved stellar performance thanks to its persistent efforts, great ambitions and the significant international flexibility the UAE provides to develop the industry. “The government's economic policy and its strong support for entrepreneurship have played vital role to enable the company maintain leadership in the super yacht market locally and internationally,'' he added. The company has a wider superyachts product offering with eight different models available between 24m and 50m. This has enabled it to not just increase global market share in the superyacht category and far outperform our peers, but also grow its brand equity and visibility in mature international yachting markets such as Europe. The company has made significant investments in recent years in the development of facilities and know-how and this has paid back in the form of a growing global appreciation of the high standards of quality and innovation we bring to superyachts. Al Shaali congratulated the President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, Supreme Council members and rulers of emirates, on the achievement. — WAM
