Bahrain

Al Dhaen 

The Kingdom of Bahrain, an archipelago situated in the Arabian Gulf and located to the east of Saudi Arabia. Known in Arabic as “the two seas,” Bahrain’s name references its distinctive environment, where freshwater springs are interspersed within saline sea beds. This geographical characteristic is a defining element of the nation’s landscape.While much of the discourse in the yachting sector within the Gulf region has centred on developments in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Bahrain also has the potential to emerge as a key yachting destination in the Gulf. This capability is supported by its infrastructural developments, enhanced yacht building capabilities and the allure of its key attractions as a cruising destination.SuperYacht Times Features Writer Enrico Chhibber met with Captain Abdulla Al Merbati, Chief Executive Officer of <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/8097" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Al Dhaen (Company)">Al Dhaen</a> Shipyard, at <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Event/258" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Dubai International Boat Show - 2025">Dubai International Boat Show</a>, to discuss the history of <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/8097" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Al Dhaen (Company)">Al Dhaen</a> the various marina projects underway in Bahrain and what the kingdom has to offer as a cruising destination.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/350476/image/large-ca7eea7b32535e88d8d3524834ee8471.jpeg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/350476">History and rebranding at&nbsp;<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/8097" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Al Dhaen (Company)">Al Dhaen</a>&nbsp;Founded in 1989 initially as a family business, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/8097" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Al Dhaen (Company)">Al Dhaen</a> is one of the oldest yacht builders in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region and has since become part of the fully corporate governance structure of Bahrain. Its parent company, the Mumtalakat Holding Company, serves as the economic arm of Bahrain. “We specialise in building composite and fibreglass boats for a variety of sectors, not just for individual and leisure use,” explained Al Merbati. “As you can see, we are also involved in producing utility boats for transportation, tourism services and surveys. Additionally, we extensively serve the military sectors. We are involved not only in governmental projects within the GCC, but also on a global scale,” he added.&nbsp;Al Merbati proceeded to highlight <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/8097" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Al Dhaen (Company)">Al Dhaen</a>'s new strategic plan, which involves creating a distinct identity for <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/8097" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Al Dhaen (Company)">Al Dhaen</a> yachts through the introduction of a seven-series range, from seven to 18-metres, in cooperation with <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/102" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Mulder Design (Company)">Mulder Design</a>. Over the past five years, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/8097" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Al Dhaen (Company)">Al Dhaen</a> has expanded its network across numerous countries. “We are now represented by official dealers in the Far East, including the Maldives, Thailand and Indonesia and have extended our reach to Turkey and the Caribbean, specifically to the French islands of Martinique and Guadeloupe,” explained Al Merbati.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/350475/image/large-c14e279d6d38df56d9f5eaffe32534ab.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/350475">Marina developments in Bahrain"Given the mismatch between the number of yachts and the available berths in Bahrain, coupled with the growing interest in the boating lifestyle in the Gulf region, we have seen significant infrastructure progress," noted Al Merbati. "In the last two years, waterfronts have been constructed and started operations; we also have well-appointed marinas in the northern side of Bahrain."Captain Al Merbati provided further details on the capacity of the current marinas in Bahrain to accommodate superyachts. "Our infrastructure can support superyachts at two marinas, where we are equipped to berth yachts ranging from 24 to 76-metres. Each marina can accommodate three or four yachts of this size" he explained. He also noted, "However, the majority of berths cater to yachts between 13-metres and 22-metres, which are the most common sizes in Bahrain."On future marina developments, Al Merbati stated, "Three more marina development projects are underway to address this supply and demand imbalance." He added, "Customers are increasingly looking to own bigger yachts," underscoring the need for expanded facilities.<img src="https://syt-store-production.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/photo/350880/image/large-def0fe807c2ccfcacef92c350c5f6502.jpg?X-Amz-Algorithm=AWS4-HMAC-SHA256&amp;X-Amz-Credential=AKIA52TLVJASOPFTPHWY%2F20250303%2Feu-west-1%2Fs3%2Faws4_request&amp;X-Amz-Date=20250303T095232Z&amp;X-Amz-Expires=900&amp;X-Amz-SignedHeaders=host&amp;X-Amz-Signature=5646c11d9d72e2d1058ad54d227ae13550f58667021349fa32b7e497c05876c7" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/350880">Regarding the management of marinas and associated logistics, Al Merbati explained that <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/8098" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Masar (Company)">Masar</a>, a sister company to <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/8097" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Al Dhaen (Company)">Al Dhaen</a> under the Mumtalakat umbrella, recently signed a contract with Captain’s Club. "They are responsible for managing boats and yacht chartering and are now looking to establish a branch in Bahrain," he stated. "They plan to oversee operations at one of the new marinas, ensuring their presence in the Bahraini market."Expanding on this, Al Merbati added, "the Captain’s Club is working in cooperation with Marsar, purchasing yachts and offering annual memberships. This model attracts individuals who may not wish to own a boat, but would like the flexibility of using one a few times a year." He noted that this concept has gained popularity not only in Bahrain but across the region as a way to attract more yachts and increase marina activity.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/350474/image/large-7c56b5284ac2f0030a7f20ffd86a6390.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/350474">Bahrain as a potential cruising destinationThe Kingdom of Bahrain comprises 33 islands, with Bahrain Island being its largest land mass and Manama, the capital, located on this main island. The surrounding shallow waters make it ideal for cruising, especially for yachts up to 24-metres in length. However, larger yachts exceeding this length have access to designated zones where the water depth accommodates safe navigation.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/285488/image/large-56669c82-5c3b-46e1-b7c9-214445a7ddb4.jpeg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/285488">Bahrain's rich maritime heritage, particularly in pearl diving, adds to its appeal as a cruising destination. This historic activity is well-documented, with the pearls harvested locally and known worldwide for their natural quality, setting them apart from synthetic varieties. Today, Bahrain continues to offer a range of nautical excursions, including sightseeing, fishing and diving trips, leveraging its picturesque waters and historical significance to attract maritime enthusiasts from around the globe. For Bahrain to become a sought-after cruising destination in the Middle East, significant progress in marina developments is essential to accommodate larger superyachts. Combined with a concerted effort to adjust regulations to allow charter activities and other commercial operations for superyachts, this approach will further promote Bahrain as a key destination within the Gulf region. Al Merbati acknowledged these strategic efforts, stating, "This is the plan for the future."<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/350878/image/large-7ab898dfe4e872aef5503c4dbe866144.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/350878">

Al Dhaen's new strategy and Bahrain's potential

history of Al Dhaen Shipyard, the various marina projects underway in Bahrain and what the kingdom has to offer as a cruising destination.