“Whether someone owns a superyacht or builds them for a living, they come to the UAE with a vision—and we help turn that into something lasting.”
— Dr. Alexander Kern, Head of Middle East, TrustQore
Over the past year, something interesting has been happening in the UAE’s marinas and boardrooms: yacht owners, shipbuilders, and maritime entrepreneurs have quietly started to build their futures here.
Thanks to new long-term visa pathways like UAE’s Superyacht Golden Visa, the UAE has opened its doors to a community that blends business with lifestyle—owners of 40m+ yachts, marine executives, brokers, and even yacht insurers.
At TrustQore, we’ve been fortunate to support a number of clients in this space. Some came with carefully laid plans. Others just knew they needed a fresh start in a stable place. What united them all was a mix of ambition, curiosity, and a long to-do list.
Here are a few snapshots of how their journeys unfolded.
🛥️ “I knew I wanted to be in the UAE—but not with just any agent.”
Client: European private yacht owner
Goal: Register vessel in the UAE, settle in with his family, and secure long-term residency
He had cruised everywhere—Côte d’Azur, Sardinia, the Maldives—but the pull toward the Gulf was growing. Clear skies, a growing ecosystem, and the Golden Visa meant he could actually live in the UAE without jumping through hoops.
What caught him off guard? The complexity. Yacht registration, ownership structures, bank accounts, family visas… and suddenly, he was back in the weeds.
That’s when we stepped in.
Together with our team and trusted partners, we helped him re-structure his vessel’s ownership, guided the family through the Golden Visa process, and handled the practical side—banking, office address, employment visas for crew. No shortcuts. No “agent surprises.”
Today, his family is comfortably settled between Abu Dhabi and Europe, with everything in order. He’s even considering bringing another vessel into UAE waters.
⚓ “We support the yachts—just not the visas, the companies, or the local structure.”
Client: CEO of a Northern European yacht builder
Goal: Qualify for a 10-year visa, establish presence in the Gulf
His company was doing well, supplying vessels for clients from Monaco to Muscat. The next logical step was a footprint in the UAE. But getting it right meant more than just launching a Free Zone company—it meant doing it in a way that matched his existing shareholding structure, brand positioning, and future investment plans.
That’s where Nico van Zyl, our Chief Commercial Director, got involved.
“A lot of people come in asking about visas or company setup. But what they really need is a roadmap. That’s where we come in.”
— Nico van Zyl, Chief Commercial Director, TrustQore
Today, the client is fully set up in Dubai, his company is expanding in the region, and his Golden Visa gives him—and his family—the stability to plan long term.
🌊 “The more I looked, the more I realised the UAE is built for people like us.”
Client: Independent yacht insurance broker relocating from the UK
Goal: Re-domicile business post-Brexit, get a Golden Visa, and rebuild operations
For this client, the move was about more than sunshine. It was about opportunity. But finding his footing proved difficult—until we helped him navigate the transition.
We built a regulatory-compliant company structure aligned with local licensing needs, helped secure his Golden Visa under the new criteria for yachting industry executives, and even advised on employment matters as his UAE team began to grow.
He now calls the UAE home and is part of a growing network of international professionals anchoring their businesses here.
What’s Changing in the UAE?
With the new Golden Visa pathways, yacht owners and maritime professionals are gaining:
- 10-year residency without a local sponsor
- Inclusion of spouse and dependents
- Freedom to live, work, or travel abroad without losing residency
- Access to healthcare, banking, and real estate markets
- A business-friendly, tax-efficient base for long-term planning
What used to be a seasonal destination is fast becoming a full-time home for entrepreneurs in the maritime world.
“The UAE is making smart moves—not just to attract investment, but to build real communities. We’re proud to help that happen, one client at a time.”
— Dr. Alexander Kern
Why Clients Come to Us
TrustQore is not a service mill. We don’t pitch cookie-cutter packages. Every client we work with gets a tailored structure, support, and continuity over time.
We help with:
- Golden Visa applications and strategy
- UAE company setup and compliance
- Yacht ownership planning
- Yacht Financing and Leasing
- Banking, tax, and family matters
- Crew and staff visa processing
- Ongoing governance and succession planning
If you’re thinking about setting up in the UAE—or just curious how this fits your journey—we’d be happy to talk.