SEAFARING

aluminium and steel. In an age where the superyacht has become a signifier of status and celebrity, luxury leisure boating has exploded into a multibillion-dollar industry.

Nevertheless, from the age of antiquity to modern day, the same

EME OUTLOOK: COULD YOU TELL US MORE ABOUT THE LAUNCH OF YOUR NEWEST BOATS?

ABEER ALSHAALI, DEPUTY MANAGING DIRECTOR: “We announced two key yachts at the Dubai International Boat Show in 2022. At the 2023 show, we will launch the Majesty 111. This is not simply a new yacht – it’s a whole new definition of what a superyacht can be. It’s a gorgeous boat with cutting edge technical features that help to bring the outside in.

“In addition, we announced the Majesty 160 superyacht. There are some key features in this design that are going to be very captivating for clients and we’ve already had a lot of interest. “Both boats are extremely futureforward and I think that 2023 is going to be a great year for these two yachts.” undeniable magnetism of the ocean and the romance of seafaring endures.

It is an impulse that beats strongly within Abeer AlShaali, Deputy Managing Director of Gulf Craft – a leading manufacturer of superyachts and one of the top seven superyacht builders in the world.

“I have always been fascinated by boatbuilding – that you can take an idea, draw it, build it, and see it come to life,” she continues.

This is precisely what Gulf Craft has excelled at for decades, with 2022 commemorating the company’s 40th anniversary. This manufacturing milestone celebrates Gulf Craft’s prestigious history in designing, building, and shipping boats across global waters through a vast distribution network from its base in the UAE.

“We are made in the UAE, and we are very proud of that, but we don’t think of ourselves as an Asian builder or as a Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region builder. We are a boat builder for boat enthusiasts, and that’s international,” says AlShaali.

“We speak boat, and we have a passion for it.”

The Pursuit Of A Passion

Gulf Craft was born in 1982 as the brainchild of its current chairman and AlShaali’s father, Mohammed Alshaali – an entrepreneurial businessman and professional diplomat with an aptitude for identifying a gap in the market.

“It basically began with my father, his partner and his brothers looking at the cost of shipping boats into the UAE,” explains AlShaali.

“He came from a strong background in boating, his grandfather and father both worked as captains, and everyone in his family had gone out to sea. It was a passion that they all shared,” she recalls. “They began to study the size of the market, its potential, and shortly after the company was established.”

Cantalupi Light Engineering

Cantalupi is a group made up of three companies - Cantalupi Electric Systems, founded in 1951, Cantalupi Light Engineering, born in 2001 and 4C Innovation, established in 2015recognised around the world for their expertise and specialisation by the most important shipyards, designers and architectural firms. To this day, Cantalupi has operated on more than 800 yachts throughout its 71 years of history.

Specifically, Cantalupi Light Engineering specialises in the production of technical and decorative lights for the superyacht industry. The design and manufacture of the lighting solutions take place within its facilities in Tuscany, where the Bespoke Division is also based. The aim of the company is to create excellent, highly customised solutions that represent the best synthesis between technology, elegance and beauty. The company also stands out for professional services and maximum customer support.

From an “idea of light” Cantalupi Light Engineering can develop the whole project through solutions that match every single project, request and design need.

Cantalupi Light Engineering creations are based on refinement and a profound desire for exclusivity. The company is constantly experimenting with original, sophisticated and timeless solutions that meet the exceptional expectations of its clients. Exclusivity is in the details, that are so crucial in the creation of a highlevel product designed for classy environments and spaces with an unforgettable style.

The products of Cantalupi Light Engineering arouse experiences full of charm. The high quality, handcrafted materials and fine finishes provide customers with exciting sensory stimuli and help create experiences of refined elegance. www.cantalupilighting.it