Gulf Craft partners with Dubai Institute of Design and Innovation

Gulf Craft has signed a memorandum of understanding with the Dubai Institute of Design and Innovation (DIDI) intended to promote superyacht innovation.

The partnership aims to bring the next generation of designers to the superyacht industry, with particular focus on growing the market in the region.

Under the terms of the agreement, the United Arab Emirates-based shipbuilder and the institute will facilitate workshops, internship programmes and design competitions for students.

“Innovation, design and empowering the next generation of the yachting community is a shared passion of everyone at Gulf Graft,” said Abeer Alshaali, deputy MD, Gulf Craft. “We want to inspire upcoming talent to consider a career in the marine industry and gain fresh perspectives through their eyes.”

Mohammed Abdullah, president, DIDI said: “We are particularly pleased to have cemented our partnership on the sidelines of a busy Dubai Design Week.”

DIDI president, Abdullah added that the MoU with Gulf Craft showed its commitment to training students to build skills for a future in the superyacht industry. “We are delighted to join hands with such a prestigious entity and look forward to leveraging this opportunity to futureproof the next generation of innovators in the region, and further afield,” he said.

Meanwhile, Alshaali represented Gulf Craft at Dubai Design Week on a panel discussion titled “Space and maritime visions – new mobility for Dubai?” alongside designer Dirk Schumann, industrial aerospace engineer and DIDI professor, Raffi Tchakeria.  Panellists explored designing superyachts and the impact of design on growing the market in the Gulf of Arabia region.

Gulf Craft has two superyacht brands: Nomad Yachts and Majesty Yachts. The latter brand’s flagship 177ft (54m) Majesty 175 vessel (pictured) has an asking price of  around $35m, according to Burgess.