Singha Estate Public Company Limited, a premier property development and investment holding company, has announced a collaboration with Jalboot Holdings LLC to manage its luxury marina at CROSSROADS; the largest integrated destination in the Maldives.
With its close proximity of a 15 minute boat ride from Velana International Airport and Malé the capital city of Maldives, CROSSROADS aims to captivate leisure travelers and family markets with a development spanning nine islands, boasting 1,300 rooms and a retail space of over 11,000 sq.m. The project’s leisure and entertainment hub, The Township, will house a variety of international restaurants, retail outlets, a world-class wellness spa, a Maldives Discovery Centre with coral preservation and coral propagation activities, a diving centre, a multi-purpose hall, a kids club, and a cultural centre. World-renowned partners at the Township include Hard Rock Café Maldives, Café del Mar, and two of Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants, Ministry of Crab and Nihonbashi.
Jalboot Holdings LLC is a leading integrated provider of vessel design, construction and operation of sightseeing and passenger transfer ferry services based in Abu Dhabi, UAE. Founded in 2013, the company has surged to the frontline of the marine transport service industry, and in addition also provides private and commercial boat charters. Jalboot prides itself on providing premium-level customer service, and thus, ensures that all of its staff members are qualified to the highest standards, supported by cutting edge technology and world class accreditations. With the UAE’s marine industry emerging as a global competitor, Jalboot is seeing a rapid increase in demand and potential sales among local and international customers, as well as a steady expansion of its subsidiaries including Jalboot Maldives, Jalboot Marinas, Jalboot Marine Services, and i-Yacht Middle East.
A contract signing ceremony between the two hospitality visionaries took place on 3 July 2018 in Abu Dhabi, the United Arab Emirates. Due to the company’s extensive expertise in marine transport and marina management, Jalboot will be providing a full spectrum water transport solution for CROSSROADS, including marina management, water transport and other support services. It will also open a ‘one stop shop’ retail space at CROSSROADS’ Township that will hold agencies for different vessels and spare parts, with a chandlery stocking specialist supplies and equipment. This retail space will include a dedicated VR Lounge for visitors to experience virtual tours on many of Jalboot’s vessels available for purchase.
Alongside managing CROSSROADS’ luxurious berth yacht marina, Jalboot will be providing a comprehensive range of luxury cruise services at the integrated destination totalling six vessels consisting of:
1. Round-trip ferry transportation services to and from Velana International Airport, Malé, and other nearby islands
2. A yacht chartering service
3. Cutting edge electric Dhoni boats providing inter-lagoon services
Jalboot’s vessels have been uniquely designed for the Maldives-based CROSSROADS, fully equipped with air-conditioning, and having the capacity to transport over 4,000 passengers per day. Placing sustainability first, key innovations of the vessels include:
1. Water jet propulsion, instead of conventional propellers which can have a damaging effect on precious marine life and corals, suitable for the geography of the Maldives.
2. Full-scale SOLAS standard facilities.
3. A catamaran design engineered to enable vessel stability and comfort.
Plans are also underway for Jalboot’s inter-island transportation to be completely electric-powered. Jalboot aims to make a significant future investment on marina and yacht management due to the growth potential of the Maldives market. Visitors to CROSSROADS can also look forward to enjoying a show, where Jalboot will showcase new models of luxury vessels. Additionally, the marina will include an upscale boardwalk, featuring a stylish dining experience, hosting celebrity chefs and world renowned DJs.
“Singha Estate is very excited about this collaboration with Jalboot. They are the perfect partner for CROSSROADS as our upscale water transportation and services that will bring in the new marina experiences,” said Naris Cheyklin, Chief Executive Officer, Singha Estate Public Company Limited.
“The creative DNA of Jalboot and Singha Estate are very similar,” said Mohamed Roestali, Chief Executive Officer, and Thomas Rebollini, Group Chief Financial Officer, Jalboot Holdings LLC. “Singha Estate is a very progressive organization that has brought the first marina and the first inter-linked resort of its kind to the Maldives. Among our many similarities, Jalboot has trail-blazed the creation of a water transport network in the UAE as well. Together, we can create an experience unlike any others in the Maldives.” From this marina management collaboration, Jalboot plans to enhance employment opportunities among Maldivian communities, by sharing its specialized know-how with a local team at CROSSROADS Marina via a specially formed start-up group.
