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Azimut and Assets Group, in the Maldives the resort continues at sea

A dedicated fleet of 18 Azimut yachts and a new Service Center in Malé will make the sea an integral part of the resort experience in the Maldives

Azimut Yachts and Assets Group are bringing 18 yachts to the Maldives, integrating cruising with hospitality at Waldorf Astoria Maldives Ithaafushi and Rosewood Ranfaru Maldives

In the Maldives, the boundary between resort and sea is becoming even less defined. Azimut Yachts and Assets Group have signed a partnership that will bring a dedicated fleet of 18 Azimut yachts to the archipelago for guests of two high-end properties: Waldorf Astoria Maldives Ithaafushi and Rosewood Ranfaru Maldives.

The agreement was formally signed on 13 September 2026 during the Cannes Yachting Festival aboard the new Azimut Grande 44M. Yet the most interesting aspect is not simply the number of yachts involved, but how they will be used: not as something separate from the stay, but as an extension of the resort experience itself.

When the yacht becomes part of the destination

The project begins with a clear idea: turning transfers, excursions and cruising between islands into part of the journey rather than simply an additional service.

In an archipelago such as the Maldives, where the sea provides the main connection between islands, lagoons and resorts, a dedicated private fleet can extend the guest experience well beyond the physical boundaries of the property.

The yacht therefore enters the same ecosystem as the villa, restaurants, activities and personalised services. It is no longer simply a means of transport, but a space to experience and part of the stay itself.

A fleet of 18 yachts, including 15 Magellano models

The partnership includes a total of 18 Azimut yachts. Of these, 15 will belong to the Magellano Series, the range developed by the shipyard around the crossover concept, with particular attention to cruising, comfort and the ability to explore different itineraries.

It is a choice that fits naturally with the Maldives. The objective here is not merely to reach a destination quickly, but to spend time underway, explore different islands and make the sea a central part of the overall experience.

The fleet will serve Waldorf Astoria Maldives Ithaafushi, spread across three private islands, and Rosewood Ranfaru Maldives, extending across a chain of islands around a lagoon.

A different model from traditional charter

The project also differs from the conventional charter model.

In this case, the yachts are not simply placed on the market as independent units available for booking. They become part of the hospitality offering itself and are integrated into a system designed around resort guests.

This is also significant from an industrial perspective. For Azimut, it means opening a new distribution and product-use channel, introducing the brand to customers who may not initially approach yachting through ownership or traditional charter.

Malé also becomes a service hub

A new Azimut Service Center in Malé will support the fleet.

The facility will be backed by the brand’s Italian team and by Azimut Yachts Maldives powered by Elite Yachts, Azimut’s longstanding partner in the Middle East and now also in the Maldives.

Supporting the fleet with a local technical structure is a significant part of the project. Integrating 18 yachts into a hospitality operation requires a particularly high level of availability and operational continuity. Maintenance, technical support and fleet management therefore become part of the overall quality of the guest experience.

For Azimut, it is also a strategic move

Marco Valle, CEO of AzimutBenetti Group, described the agreement as a strategic milestone on two fronts: opening new distribution channels and strengthening the brand’s position within ultra-luxury hospitality.

This is perhaps one of the most interesting aspects of the operation.

The shipyard is not simply selling yachts to an operator. It is becoming part of an ecosystem in which its product is used every day as part of an experience built around the customer. The relationship between the yachting brand and the guest therefore becomes more direct, even without immediately involving ownership.

Luxury is no longer defined only by place

In their official communication, Azimut and Assets Group describe a broader evolution in contemporary luxury: one increasingly based on access, freedom, personalisation and connection with nature rather than solely on location.

In this context, the yacht fits naturally.

In the Maldives it can mean leaving the resort to reach a lagoon, exploring another island, spending several hours away from shore or simply turning a transfer into a private experience at sea.

The stay and the journey gradually cease to be separate moments.

A possible new relationship between yachting and hospitality

For now, the operation remains connected to two resorts and to a very particular destination. It would therefore be premature to describe it automatically as a model that will spread everywhere.

The principle, however, is interesting.

For hospitality groups, a dedicated fleet can extend the value of the guest experience. For a shipyard, it offers the possibility of meeting new customers through an environment different from traditional boat shows, dealer networks or charter.

If this relationship develops further, the boundary between yachting and hospitality may become progressively less distinct.

In the Maldives, Azimut and Assets Group are starting from exactly this point: not simply taking resort guests aboard a yacht, but ensuring that the journey at sea becomes part of the destination.

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Azimut Yachts

17 September 2026
© MED Yachting Editorial Team
Azimut and Assets Group, in the Maldives the resort continues at sea
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The information in this article has been sourced from and adapted from official sources and/or press releases, in accordance with our editorial code of ethics.