Gulf Craft is set to open its brand-new refit centre in Ajman, UAE, amid growing demand for refit services as the superyacht fleet continues to flock to the region. With construction currently underway, the facility is expected to be completed by mid-2025, with the shipyard also disclosing to SuperyachtNews that it will also be focusing on developing its Maldives facility over the next three years.

“With this new facility, we’re not just meeting the rising demand for superyacht services; we’re dedicated to providing an exceptional experience for our clients and supporting the growth of a premier yachting community in the region,” says Abeer Alshaali, Deputy Managing Director of the shipyard.

The new Gulf Craft Services facility in Ajman, which will become partly operational by the end of the year, marks a substantial investment in regional yachting infrastructure. While the shipyard has provided refit and maintenance services to its own fleet, the new facility will be open to all yachts.

Naturally, the region has its challenges, particularly heat, humidity and high salinity. However, with over four decades of experience in manufacturing in this climate, Gulf Craft maintains that it has great systems in place to continue working all year round.

The 10,034-square-metre facility features a natural water depth of 8 metres, a 600-tonne Cimolai travel lift capable of handling yachts up to 600 tonnes and an additional 75-tonne travel lift for smaller vessels.

The shipyard will also provide an 80-metre alongside berth that will facilitate in-water repairs, as well as four 60-metre yacht berths. Specialised workshops will also deliver carpentry, upholstery, painting, fabrication, mechanical and electrical services, supported by an on-site spare parts shop.

Vessel registration services will also be offered in partnership with the Dubai Maritime Authority.

The expansion of Gulf Craft’s refit operations to service its entire fleet is emblematic of a broader trend unfolding worldwide. With MB92 preparing to launch its Red Sea refit facility, it’s clear that the region is responding to the rising demand for refit services, driven by an ever-expanding and increasingly global fleet.

The growth of the new-build sector has put relentless pressure on the rest of the industry to scale up talent and services and nowhere is this more evident than in the refit sector. The increasing number of yachts requires more facilities equipped to handle maintenance and upgrades and this surge in demand has pushed shipyards like Gulf Craft to rise to the challenge.

In The Superyacht Report: Refit Edition, we explore this evolution, spotlighting how refit facilities are emerging in less traditional locations and what this reveals about an industry adapting and expanding beyond its usual boundaries.

Our latest annual Refit Edition, Issue 223, will be available for free until the day after METSTRADE on 21 November. This release is part of our Open-Source strategy, designed to make our Reports accessible to everyone in an interactive digital format.

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