Nader Nashed, Founder & CEO, Romeo Marine
Dubai Born. Ocean Bound The mark of an enduring company is not how it keeps pace with its industry, but how it compels the industry to keep pace with it. Its journey is defined by an ability to transform ambition into benchmarks that others strive to meet. What begins as capability evolves into legacy, setting a standard that extends far beyond its own walls. That legacy first took shape in 1983, when brothers Nader and Samy Nashed founded Romeo Interiors.
What began as a bold vision soon transformed into a hallmark of ultra-luxury, with the company setting new benchmarks in bespoke craftsmanship for royal palaces and prestigious yachts. The pursuit of perfection became its hallmark, with each project a testament to artistry fused with precision.
By 2008, the natural evolution of this mastery gave rise to Romeo Marine in Dubai, a leap from interiors to entire vessels. The company’s early years were marked by modest yacht refits, but ambition quickly propelled it into large-scale construction. Milestones such as the delivery of Al Hanem in 2008 and the expansion of its shipyard to over 250,000 square feet established Romeo Marine as a force within the industry. Today, with the ability to construct two superyachts simultaneously, the company stands as the largest superyacht shipyard in the Middle East. And in 2025, the launch of the Romeo 55 promises not just a new chapter, but a redefinition of what yacht building in the UAE can be.
Engineering Consistency, Overcoming Barriers
Romeo Marine offers turnkey solutions that span new builds, refits, interior outfitting, and ongoing maintenance. The breadth of this portfolio could easily create fragmentation, but the company has ensured consistency through a deliberate strategy of vertical integration. Unlike many yards that rely heavily on outsourcing, Romeo Marine retains every critical process in-house, from steel and aluminum hull construction to engineering, naval architecture, interior design, and finishing. This structure minimizes risk, sharpens accountability, and keeps quality control firmly under one roof. By placing craftsmen and engineers side by side, the company blends traditional artistry with advanced techniques, ensuring that every vessel bears the unmistakable hallmark of precision and luxury.
Yet, building capability was only one part of the journey. Establishing a Dubai-based shipyard in a market historically dominated by European players posed a greater challenge: credibility. Romeo Marine confronted this head-on, investing in world-class facilities and consistently delivering vessels that met the most demanding international classification standards. Partnerships with global leaders further reinforced this reputation, enabling the integration of hybrid propulsion systems and advanced sustainability features. As Nader Nashed, Founder & CEO of Romeo Marine, affirms, “Our strategy was clear, control what matters, invest where it counts, and prove through results that excellence knows no geography.”
Where Yachts Become Culture
Superyacht clients are among the most discerning in the world, and meeting their expectations requires more than technical mastery; it requires empathy, imagination, and precision. At Romeo Marine, every project begins not with blueprints, but with dialogue. The team collaborates closely with clients, designers, and naval architects to capture lifestyle aspirations, whether that means prioritizing privacy, creating expansive entertainment spaces, or enabling global cruising capabilities.
From initial concepts to 3D modeling and full-scale interior mock-ups, clients remain involved at every stage, ensuring the finished yacht is as personal as it is extraordinary. Each vessel is envisioned as a collaborative masterpiece, shaped by engineering expertise and aesthetic vision.
This philosophy extends beyond individual projects into the culture that drives the company. Anchored in craftsmanship, integrity, and innovation, Romeo Marine treats every yacht not as a product, but as a legacy. Its spirit blends the artisanal heritage of Romeo Interiors’ 40 years of mastery with the precision of modern engineering. As Nader reflects, “When we call a yacht a masterpiece, it’s our standard. Every detail must carry the weight of permanence.” This commitment ensures that every project is both an achievement today and a benchmark for tomorrow.
From Craft to Catalyst
In luxury yacht building, the true art lies not in choosing between past and future but in harmonizing both. Romeo Marine has built its reputation on honoring artisanal craftsmanship while embracing advanced engineering, a balance evident in its mastery of steel hulls, aluminum superstructures, and the integration of carbon fiber for performance-driven components. This blend ensures that each vessel is both timeless in character and pioneering in form, anchored in tradition yet propelled by innovation.
Looking ahead, the company’s ambitions extend well beyond design and materials. Romeo Marine is positioning itself as a pioneer of sustainable superyachting from the Middle East, investing in hybrid propulsion, fuel cell technology, and advanced energy management systems through strategic collaborations with global leaders “Innovation for us is not an option; it is a responsibility to our clients, our craft, and the planet we share,” Nader affirms.
Flagship projects like the Romeo 75 and Romeo 60 are envisioned not only as feats of engineering and artistry but also as milestones in reducing emissions and reshaping efficiency. Equally, Dubai is central to this journey, evolving into not just a hub for yacht ownership but a global leader in yacht construction. With this vision, Romeo Marine is building yachts and charting a course for the future of superyachting itself.