Saudi Arabia issues new Red Sea yacht licences

Saudi Arabia has issued three new yacht rental licences to Mayassar Nooraldeen Al-Hadded Company, Seem Private Company and Ocean Breeze Company for operations in the Red Sea, bringing the total number of licenced operators in the kingdom to eight.

The licences were granted by the Saudi Red Sea Authority as part of ongoing efforts to regulate maritime and navigation activities while supporting tourism sector growth in line with Vision 2030. They were issued after applicants met regulatory requirements, including compliance with technical, operational, safety, security and environmental standards. 

The move is intended to improve service quality and support the development of a structured yachting ecosystem across the Red Sea, while maintaining environmental safeguards.

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Yacht licensing forms part of wider efforts to attract investment into coastal tourism, with targets of 19 million visitors to the Red Sea by 2030. The destination, developed by Red Sea Global (RSG), includes island resorts such as Shebara and Shura Island, and is set to feature 11 hotels and a marina once fully completed.

Further along the coast, the upcoming Amaala development, also backed by RSG, will include the Amaala Yacht Club. The four-storey facility will feature a 120-berth marina and is expected to host yachting events and regattas. Amaala is also scheduled to host the finale of The Ocean Race Europe in 2027, marking the event’s first stop in the Red Sea.

The kingdom has continued to expand its maritime tourism offering, with growing investment across cruise and coastal developments. Saudi’s Aroya Cruises will restart Red Sea sailings from its Jeddah homeport on 14 May 2026, with itineraries of three, four and five nights targeting short-break demand. The resumption follows the escalation of the Iran conflict on 28 February 2026, which affected Middle East cruise operations.

For more information, visit www.redsea.gov.sa