ASSETS GROUP AND AZIMUT YACHTS FORGE STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP FOR EXPERIENTIAL HOSPITALITY IN THE MALDIVES
Global destination developer Assets Group and world-leading nautical brand Azimut Yachts have announced a strategic partnership that brings together their respective expertise in ultra-luxury hospitality and yachting to create seamless experiences between resort stays and life at sea.
Beginning in 2026, the collaboration will introduce a dedicated fleet of 18 Azimut yachts in the Maldives, serving Waldorf Astoria Maldives Ithaafushi and Rosewood Ranfaru Maldives. The partnership will also include the establishment of a specialized Azimut Service Center in Malé, providing dedicated local support to the fleet and strengthening Azimut’s service capabilities in the region.
The agreement was formally sealed on Sunday, September 13, aboard Azimut’s new flagship, the Grande 44M, against the backdrop of the Cannes Yachting Festival.
A Shared Vision for the Future of Luxury Hospitality the partnership is founded on a strong alignment of values and ambition. Assets Group, a subsidiary of Power International Holding, develops destinations shaped by experiential depth, highly personalized hospitality and environmental harmony. In Azimut Yachts, it finds a natural partner: a brand renowned for defining the contemporary yachting lifestyle through Italian design, technological innovation and a deep connection with the sea.
Their shared commitment to experience-led design, personalized service and responsible stewardship creates a compelling platform for collaboration.
Its first landmark expression will take shape in the Maldives from 2026, where the dedicated fleet of 18 Azimut yachts will extend the guest journey beyond the shore, transforming travel between and around the islands into an integral part of the destination experience.
Of the 18 yachts, 15 will belong to Azimut’s Magellano Series, which pioneered the nautical crossover concept and embodies a spirit of exploration, comfort and freedom to journey beyond the expected.
Dedicated Service Infrastructure in Malé supporting the fleet will be a new Azimut Service Center in Malé, established to ensure consistently high standards of technical assistance and operational support.
Backed by Azimut’s Italian team and Azimut Yachts Maldives powered by Elite Yachts Azimut’s longstanding partner in the Middle East and now the Maldives the Service Center will provide dedicated local expertise and help ensure seamless operations across the islands.
Marco Valle, CEO of Azimut|Benetti Group, said: “This partnership represents a major strategic milestone for Azimut across two key dimensions. 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.”
Khaled Zi Alnon, Group Chief Executive Officer of Assets Group, said: “At Assets Group, we are shaping destinations around the full guest journey, creating experiences that extend far beyond the stay itself. Our investment in 18 Azimut yachts brings that vision onto the water, combining world-class craftsmanship, personalized service and seamless mobility.
“In doing so, Assets Group will become the operator of the largest private luxury yacht fleet in the Indian Ocean—setting a new benchmark for integrated luxury hospitality and reflecting the ambition with which we are building the future of destination experiences in the Maldives.”
Enrico Chiaussa, Chief Commercial Officer EMEA APAC of Azimut Yachts, added: “The Maldives represent a high-potential market where we already enjoy a solid footprint. Here, we are set to further consolidate our leadership position, also thanks to the opening of a local service center. It is precisely Azimut’s ability to combine market expansion with an uncompromised standard of service excellence that enables us to scale with long-term stability, while ensuring partner satisfaction at the highest level.”
Extending the Luxury Experience Beyond the Shore the fleet and the exceptional natural settings at the heart of the collaboration embody a philosophy in which the luxury of the stay and the freedom of the voyage become one.
The Waldorf Astoria Maldives Ithaafushi, a private sanctuary spanning three islands and Rosewood Ranfaru Maldives, set across a striking chain of private islands surrounding a pristine lagoon, reflect Assets Group’s approach to purposeful hospitality bringing together exceptional destinations, highly personalized service and respect for the natural environment.
Azimut’s Magellano Series complements this philosophy by offering a distinctive approach to life at sea, combining sophisticated design with a spirit of exploration and creating new opportunities for guests to experience the Maldives beyond the boundaries of the resorts themselves.
The collaboration reflects a broader evolution in contemporary luxur one in which exclusivity is defined not simply by place, but by access, freedom, personalization and a deeper connection with nature.
Together, Assets Group and Azimut Yachts aim to bring this vision to life for a new generation of global travelers seeking meaningful experiences that extend far beyond the stay.
