Assets Group and Azimut Yachts have agreed a partnership to integrate yacht cruising with luxury resort stays in the Maldives, supported by a dedicated fleet of 18 Azimut yachts and a new Azimut Service Centre in Malé.
The agreement was signed during the Cannes Yachting Festival and will take effect from later in 2026.
The fleet will serve Waldorf Astoria Maldives Ithaafushi and Rosewood Ranfaru Maldives, extending the guest experience beyond the resorts and making yacht transport and cruising part of the wider destination offer.
Azimut says the collaboration expands its business model into new distribution channels while positioning the brand within ultra-luxury hospitality.
The Maldivian fleet will include 15 yachts from Azimut’s Magellano Series, which is designed around long-distance cruising and onboard exploration.
Local support
The new Azimut Service Centre in Malé will provide local support for the fleet, backed by Azimut’s Italian team and Azimut Yachts Maldives, powered by Elite Yachts.
The companies say the facility is intended to support consistent service standards and day-to-day operations across the islands.
“This partnership represents a major strategic milestone for Azimut across two key dimensions,” said Marco Valle, chief executive of Azimut|Benetti Group.
“First, regarding our business model, which expands into new distribution channels. Second, with respect to our brand positioning: by partnering with leaders in ultra-luxury hospitality, we elevate the ecosystem of yacht-related experiences for a discerning audience, in a highly compelling hub.”
Investment
Assets Group chief executive Khaled Zi Alnon said the investment would combine yacht craftsmanship, personalised service and mobility, making Assets Group ‘the operator of the largest private luxury yacht fleet in the Indian Ocean’.
Enrico Chiaussa, chief commercial officer EMEA APAC of Azimut Yachts, added that the Maldives represented a high-potential market where the company already had a solid footprint, with the new service centre intended to support further growth.
The partnership links yacht operations with two island resort developments, reflecting a strategy focused on integrated high-end hospitality, private mobility and access to the surrounding marine environment.
