‍SuperYacht Times has announced the programme for the upcoming Gulf Superyacht Summit. Now in its eighth edition, the event will take place on 24 and 25 November 2026 in Dubai, at Jumeirah Mina Al Salam.

Organised by SuperYacht Times with host partner Dubai Economy & Tourism and event partner Lürssen, this year's event is invitation-only. Moving away from a stage-led conference, the 2026 edition brings together a select group of yacht owners, investors, CEOs and regional decision-makers for moderated discussions, targeted introductions and curated site visits.

Tuesday 24 November

8:30 – 9:30 – Coffee and registration

9:30 – 9:45 – Opening by Merijn de Waard

9:45 – 10:30 – Turning the UAE Yachting Alliance into action

This session will explore how the UAE's yachting stakeholders can move from shared ambition to practical collaboration, and what concrete steps are needed to strengthen the country's offering to visiting and resident superyachts.

• Moderator: Merijn de Waard, Founder of SuperYacht Times

• Menelaus Kouzoupis, Stephenson Harwood

• Captain Mike Fetton, JLS Yachts

• In addition to representatives from Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Ras Al Khaimah 

10:30 – 11:00 – Presentation: Wynn Al Marjan Marina

In an exclusive presentation, Max Tappeiner, President of Wynn Al Marjan Marina will unveil details of Wynn Al Marjan Marina for the first time. Part of the landmark Wynn Al Marjan Island resort development in Ras Al Khaimah, the new facility is set to become a significant addition to the UAE's superyacht infrastructure – and summit delegates will be the first to learn what it will offer visiting yachts.

• Max Tappeiner, President, Wynn Al Marjan Marina

11:00 – 11:30 – Coffee break

11:30 – 12:20 – Breakout sessions

The programme then splits into two parallel breakout sessions, giving delegates the chance to contribute directly in a smaller setting.

Breakout A: Developing a world-class superyacht service ecosystem

This workshop will examine what the region needs to support the growing number of large yachts spending the winter season in the Gulf – from refit and maintenance to management and crew services.

• Moderator: Merijn de Waard, Founder of SuperYacht Times

• Richard Eastham, Magnitude Yachts

• Patrick Heslop, Autore

• Captain Patricia Caswell, Superyacht Service Centre

• Geoff Moore, West Nautical

• Nabil El Jammal, Benetti

Breakout B: Making the UAE a yachting capital

With a large community of ultra-high-net-worth individuals – including some of the owners of the world's largest yachts – calling the UAE home, this workshop will explore how the country can play a bigger role in the global sales, charter and management of superyachts, and what it will take for the Emirates to cement their position as a yachting capital.

• Moderator: Francesca Webster, SuperYacht Times

• Jonny Dodge, MyOcean

• Additional speakers to be confirmed 

12:20 – 13:00 – Keynote Q&A with Ferretti CEO Stassi Anastassov

Stassi Anastassov, who was appointed CEO of Ferretti Group in May 2026, will share his vision for the Italian builder and discuss the importance of the Middle East to the company's future.

13:00 – 14:30 – Lunch

14:30 – 14:45 – Key takeaways from the morning

A summary of the main insights and themes to emerge from the morning's discussions.

14:45 – 15:30 – Leadership panel

Leading figures from the region's shipyards, service providers and yachting businesses will share their perspectives on the opportunities and challenges shaping the future of yachting in the Gulf.

• Moderator: Merijn de Waard, SuperYacht Times

• Erwin Bamps, Gulf Craft

• Gunther Alvarado, Al Seer Marine

• James Kerry, Magnitude Yachts

• Lydia Pascarelli, OceanWorld

15:30 – 16:00 – Q&A: Building superyachts in Dubai – the story behind Romeo

In this session, Nader Hashed will share the story behind Romeo and what it reveals about building superyachts in Dubai.

16:00 – 18:00 – Networking drinks

18:00 – 22:00 – Dinner experience

Wednesday 25 November 

The second day takes place at a unique beachside venue, with a focus on yacht ownership and the wider luxury economy.

8:30 – 9:30 – Networking breakfast

9:30 – 10:15 – Building a luxury economy: Perspectives from beyond yachting

This session will look at how lessons from the wider luxury sector can inform the growth of the Gulf's yachting industry.

10:15 – 11:00 – The yacht owner's perspective

An ownership Q&A offering delegates a direct insight into the experiences and priorities of a yacht owner.

11:00 – 11:30 – Coffee and departure for company visits

Delegates will then depart for elective visits to two local companies, giving participants firsthand access to the region's yachting capabilities:

• Superyacht Interiors Dubai

• Romeo Marine

15:00 Dubai International Boat Show begins 

Delegates can combine their visit with the Dubai International Boat Show, which starts on the afternoon of Wed 25 November, with a dedicated shuttle service running between the summit and the show.

About the summit

Alongside Lürssen and Dubai Economy & Tourism, the summit is supported by Gulf Craft, MB92, Autore, Zairos, Superyacht Interiors, Phoenix Yacht Management and Atiq Mustafa Electrical Equipment Works.

Attendance at the Gulf Superyacht Summit 2026 is by invitation only. Industry leaders, investors and yacht owners interested in contributing are invited to register their interest via the application form.