Gulf Craft and Gulf Finance team up to offer monthly payment schedules for Oryx and Silvercraft customers

Notes and media contacts

About Gulf Craft:
Gulf Craft Inc, based in the United Arab Emirates, exports more than 70% of its output and its leisure craft and super-luxury yachts are to be found in virtually every major harbour of the world.

Although Gulf Craft Inc began life building small pleasure craft, it is now a mainstream producer of multi-deck masterpieces where neither expense nor effort are spared in setting the definitive 'state of the art' standard for ocean-going luxury. It is one of only a handful shipyards capable of producing vessels of 100-ft and over, with annual production of about 700 vessels up to 150 ft overall length. Since launching its Majesty Yachts brand in 2003 and its Oryx brand in 2004, orders have been pouring in.


About Gulf Finance:
Gulf Finance Corporation was established in 1998 by Oman Insurance Company and Invest Bank P.S.C. In 2002 SHUAA Capital P.S.C. one of the region's leading investment banks bought a 55% stake in the business. This was subsequently raised to 100% ownership in 2005.

The business is licensed and regulated by the UAE Central Bank as a Finance Company.

Since launching in 1998 the business has predominantly focused on the asset finance market and has developed a well diversified portfolio spread across a variety of sectors including transportation and construction.

Over the last decade Gulf Finance has grown into a substantial business with a balance sheet of over Dhs800m and circa 2,000 active customers. This makes Gulf Finance one of the largest niche finance companies in the UAE. In October 2008 the business was awarded its first corporate credit rating from Capital Intelligence.

Gulf Finance has demonstrated exceptional long term profitable growth. Profits in the business have grown consistently over many years, and over the period of 2003-2008 have grown at a compound annual growth rate of 35%.

Leveraging its expertise in the small business market, Gulf Finance is now actively targeting newer sectors such as healthcare, leisure and professional services to support the expansion of the burgeoning UAE small business economy.

The business operates through two customer facing divisions; Consumer Finance and Commercial Finance. The Consumer Finance business offers secured and unsecured loans and is particular active in Marine Finance. In addition to offering our traditional Asset Finance expertise, the Commercial Finance business is also active in the provision of Invoice Finance, Term Loans, Fixed Deposits and Financial Guarantees to the small business market.

The business operates across the UAE with offices in Abu Dhabi, Dubai (Head Office) and Sharjah. Additionally, Gulf Finance has some exposure to the Bahraini market through a limited equity stake in National Finance House.

For more information, please contact:
For further details contact:
Linsey Worgan
D'PR
Tel: +971 (0)4 323 3668