January 2023
SF Yachts, the Middle East's leading yacht management consultancy is delighted to announce it reached its 10 year anniversary milestone at the close of 2022
Founded in 2012 with a focus on sales, yacht management and after sales, the GCC-based management company has rapidly expanded over the past decade to provide turnkey solutions across all maritime sectors around the world.
“Starting a company out of hard work and zero capital was a huge challenge in 2012, and the yachting environment was really difficult at that time,” says SF Yachts’ CEO, Francesco Pitea. “However, we soon realized that our core values – competency, honesty and dedication – and the assurances that we give owners, such as preventing variations to contract, unforeseen delays, quality issues and after sales queries, were a recipe for success.”
SF Yachts has seen a 20% increase in profitability and market share year on year since it was established. “We founded the company because we saw a gap in the market,” adds Pitea. “We don’t only look at the now, but also focus on our clients’ future to deliver enduring customer satisfaction.”
The company started out with the management of a Benetti 105. As its reputation and reach grew, it diversified from focusing on sales into build projects and more. Its core management remains the same, but its team and client base has grown exponentially. Today, SF Yachts’ guarantees its clients full control of the build process for yachts up to 80 metres.
“We are not defined as an Owner’s representative; we are the insurance that any Owner needs when they decide to build their dream on the sea,” explains Pitea. “Being based in Oman, UAE and Bahrain has meant our customers have always enjoyed different backgrounds and nationalities, but now in 2023, our reach extends to anyone in the world who loves the sea.”
To date, the company’s biggest success has been the development of its superyacht consultancy division. This is exemplified by the global recognition its projects have received at the World Superyacht Awards and the Design Awards. Key superyacht projects that the company has managed from concept to completion include SF42 motor yacht Serenity, SF55 motor yacht Al Waab, and the all-new SF60.
“We are proud to have delivered SF55 Al Waab in just 24 months without variation to the contract, even amid Covid,” says Pitea. “We were one of the few companies in the yachting industry that did not stop during the global lockdowns, hours spent working via video conference and client calls. All our projects during that time were still built to quality standards, specification, budget and on time.”
SF Yachts heads into the next 10 years with an expanding portfolio of client offerings. These include the sales representation of Beneteau and Prestige boats – “the perfect balance between quality and budget” – as well as Riviera Yachts Australia, which satisfies a niche in the sports cruising and fishing markets.
“Owners want to spend the right budget on a quality investment,” says Pitea. “Current high demand and limited inventory is driving sales, but soon the biggest revolution in the superyacht industry will be when shipyards’ build price is adjusted to the correct level.”
SF Yachts’ current projects include the construction of the SF60, SF45 Atrium, Project Octagon and an 80 metre.
There is more to come in 2023…
NOTES FOR EDITORS/…
ABOUT SF YACHTS
SF Yachts LLC is the GCC dealer for Riviera Yachts Australia, Prestige and Beneteau. It specialises in the new build construction and management of yachts and superyachts, and its professional team has more than 20 years of experience in the marine industry.
For more information or to request high res images please contact Saba Zeidan (saba@sf-yachts.com) at +971 4 388 3178 or visit www.sf-yachts.com
“Starting a company out of hard work and zero capital was a huge challenge in 2012, and the yachting environment was really difficult at that time,” says SF Yachts’ CEO, Francesco Pitea. “However, we soon realized that our core values – competency, honesty and dedication – and the assurances that we give owners, such as preventing variations to contract, unforeseen delays, quality issues and after sales queries, were a recipe for success.”
SF Yachts has seen a 20% increase in profitability and market share year on year since it was established. “We founded the company because we saw a gap in the market,” adds Pitea. “We don’t only look at the now, but also focus on our clients’ future to deliver enduring customer satisfaction.”
The company started out with the management of a Benetti 105. As its reputation and reach grew, it diversified from focusing on sales into build projects and more. Its core management remains the same, but its team and client base has grown exponentially. Today, SF Yachts’ guarantees its clients full control of the build process for yachts up to 80 metres.
“We are not defined as an Owner’s representative; we are the insurance that any Owner needs when they decide to build their dream on the sea,” explains Pitea. “Being based in Oman, UAE and Bahrain has meant our customers have always enjoyed different backgrounds and nationalities, but now in 2023, our reach extends to anyone in the world who loves the sea.”
To date, the company’s biggest success has been the development of its superyacht consultancy division. This is exemplified by the global recognition its projects have received at the World Superyacht Awards and the Design Awards. Key superyacht projects that the company has managed from concept to completion include SF42 motor yacht Serenity, SF55 motor yacht Al Waab, and the all-new SF60.
“We are proud to have delivered SF55 Al Waab in just 24 months without variation to the contract, even amid Covid,” says Pitea. “We were one of the few companies in the yachting industry that did not stop during the global lockdowns, hours spent working via video conference and client calls. All our projects during that time were still built to quality standards, specification, budget and on time.”
SF Yachts heads into the next 10 years with an expanding portfolio of client offerings. These include the sales representation of Beneteau and Prestige boats – “the perfect balance between quality and budget” – as well as Riviera Yachts Australia, which satisfies a niche in the sports cruising and fishing markets.
“Owners want to spend the right budget on a quality investment,” says Pitea. “Current high demand and limited inventory is driving sales, but soon the biggest revolution in the superyacht industry will be when shipyards’ build price is adjusted to the correct level.”
SF Yachts’ current projects include the construction of the SF60, SF45 Atrium, Project Octagon and an 80 metre.
There is more to come in 2023…
NOTES FOR EDITORS/…
ABOUT SF YACHTS
SF Yachts LLC is the GCC dealer for Riviera Yachts Australia, Prestige and Beneteau. It specialises in the new build construction and management of yachts and superyachts, and its professional team has more than 20 years of experience in the marine industry.
For more information or to request high res images please contact Saba Zeidan (saba@sf-yachts.com) at +971 4 388 3178 or visit www.sf-yachts.com