Al Shaali (AS) Marine, one of the largest manufacturers of luxury boats and yachts in the Middle East, is expecting a 50 per cent growth in sales this year, continuing its robust performance of last year, according to its deputy chairman.

Sultan Abdullah Al Shaali said growth would particularly be evident in the luxury yacht segment.
The official said the basis for its ambitious sales forecast was the construction and completion of several man-made islands in the UAE and neighbouring countries, coupled with a rising regional demand for luxury yachts for sport fishing and leisure.
“AS Marine’s boats and yachts have built a reputation for quality craftsmanship, futuristic design and excellent performance, factors which the company believes are key in extending its market share, both in the Gulf region and across the world,” Al Shaali said. 
“Our luxury boats have become the benchmark for quality and performance, and we are constantly driven to raise the bar of our manufacturing standards,” he added.
“With iconic projects in Dubai like The Palm and The World quickly taking shape and with similar man-made islands coming up in Qatar and other neighbouring countries, we expect a substantial increase in demand for boats and luxury yachts from residents of these developments. Moreover, market indicators point towards a continued surge in demand for our boats from major European and Asian markets, and we are fully geared to meet this growing demand.”
AS Marine has a dealer network all over Europe and the GCC region. The company exports around 50 per cent of its production to countries such as Spain, the UK, the Maldives, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Kuwait.
The product range extends from small fishing boats to large, super-luxury, handcrafted and custom-made boats and yachts. AS Marine’s boats are known for their sophisticated navigation technology, including advanced GPS and radar.
Commenting on the potential of the UAE’s boat industry, Al Shaali says: “The boat industry in the UAE is estimated to be worth over Dh1.5 billion and to complement this we have an economy that is booming at an unprecedented pace, which means the growth of this industry is set to reach enviable heights in the coming years and we are glad to be in a formidable position to capitalise on this boom.”