Yacht Ownership Guides for Gulf Owners

The six guides in brief

Cost of owning a yacht in Saudi Arabia builds an annual budget from berths in Jeddah and the Red Sea projects, crew, insurance and maintenance, with 15 percent VAT in the picture.

Importing a yacht to the Gulf explains the 5 percent GCC duty, VAT country by country and temporary admission for visiting yachts.

Best marinas in the Middle East compares berths from Sindalah and AMAALA to Old Doha Port, Al Mouj and Al Kout.

Yacht flag registration for Gulf owners sets local registries against Cayman and Marshall Islands flags, and covers registering a boat in the UAE.

Buying a used yacht: survey checklist lists what Gulf heat does to gelcoat, teak, engines, generators and air conditioning, and where a surveyor should look.

Gulf Craft Majesty range compares every Majesty model from the 62 to the 175, with sizes, build years and the prices we could confirm.

Owner questions and the page to read first

• Where is the market growing fastest? Saudi Arabia's Red Sea coast. Start with yachts for sale in Saudi Arabia.
• Is there VAT on a yacht in Qatar? Currently zero; see yachts for sale in Qatar.
• Where can I cruise beyond the marina? Oman's coast. See yachts for sale in Oman.
• Is the Gulf Craft Majesty a good buy? Read the Majesty 62 guide.
• Who can maintain the yacht in summer? See yacht service in the Gulf.

Why we publish the numbers

Opaque markets punish buyers, and in the end brokers too. An owner who knows the real VAT position in Saudi Arabia or the berth situation in Qatar negotiates faster and closes cleaner. Where a figure varies or a rule is changing, the guides say so and name the authority to confirm with.