The Azimut-Benetti Group, a prominent European manufacturer of motor yachts and a world leader in mega-yachts construction, announced a strategic tie-up with Art Marine, a regional distributor of luxury yachts.

Paolo Vitelli, president and managing director of the group, said the exclusive tie-up with Art Marine was for the distribution of the Italian company’s Azimut yachts and Atlantis luxury craft line in the GCC region, Jordan and Pakistan.
He said the decision by his company to appoint a single distributor for the entire region was strategic and in line with Azimut-Benetti’s plans for the region, which was witnessing a boom in tourism, surging luxury boat sales and the building of new marinas.
“We found that instead of appointing dealers in individual countries, tying up with a strategic partner like Art Marine, goes with our objectives in the region. Art Marine is managed by experts with many years of experience in the region and we are confident that they will continue to do extremely well in the future,” Vitelli said.
The Azimut-Benetti Group is said to have the largest production network of luxury yachts in the world. The company has been placed first for six consecutive years by the prestigious American magazine Showboats International, which rates major mega-yacht constructors. The group is also said to be one of the world’s leading boatyards with a production value of Euro 481 million, as of August 31, 2004.
Speaking about the growing opportunities in the Middle East’s luxury pleasure boat market, Vitelli said the sector was witnessing a phenomenal expansion and now accounted for almost a fifth of global luxury yacht sales.
He observed that rising sales of luxury yachts had also led to a massive demand for mooring facilities, which now provided a significant opportunity for investors. Consequently, regional seafront developers had begun responding by building luxury marinas across the region.
 “Across the Middle East and Gulf, from Lebanon to Kuwait and Dubai, Egypt to Bahrain to Qatar and Saudi Arabia, marinas are being constructed and planned, or have already been completed and there is constant increase in passion for boating and water sports in the region. I foresee a significant increase in the demand for our luxury yachts in the region and we, with our partners Art Marine, are prepared to meet this demand,” Vitelli said.
Azimut-Benetti is an Italian group whose sales exceed 85 per cent of its entire production on international markets. Its growth has covered markets in Asia, the Americas and Europe. Its frontiers are now extending to Australia and New Zealand with a sales network of approximately 50 professional and highly motivated dealers.