Marina · Yacht Club · Waterfront Advisory
A senior advisory platform supporting owners, developers and operators across the full waterfront lifecycle — from concept and design through pre-opening, launch and live operations. Powered by SOAR Consultancy FZ-LLC.
FMD is a marina, yacht club and waterfront advisory platform for owners, developers and operators. We know how to run marinas — and how to integrate them into the hotel, residential, retail and leisure development around them.
We bring the operator’s voice in while decisions are still on paper — challenging designs so they drive top-line revenue, run efficiently and need no rework after handover.
Marine engineers design infrastructure. Operators live with the consequences. FMD closes the gap between design and operations.
We bring the operator’s voice in early and test every layout, flow and service concept against three questions: does it drive the top line, does it work day to day, and does it run cost-efficiently — before completion locks it in and the owner pays to change it.
Layouts that maximise revenue
Flows that function in practice
Operations without waste
Design it right. Open it right. Operate it right.
FMD can join at any stage — or remain involved throughout the full lifecycle.
Define the marina, yacht club and waterfront proposition.
Operational input into masterplans, infrastructure and technical design.
Membership, hospitality, F&B, recreation and sailing.
Pricing, benchmarking, home-port strategy and destination positioning.
People, systems, SOPs, budgets and operating readiness.
Commercial review, management support, reporting, training and continuous improvement.
Each service has its own detailed page. Start with the one that matches your current stage.
Operational input before construction becomes operation.
Membership, hospitality, F&B, recreation and sailing.
Pricing, benchmarking, home-port strategy and destination positioning.
Understand the market before setting the strategy.
Smart systems, environmental controls and accreditation pathways.
People, systems, SOPs, budgets and operating readiness.
Design the entire guest journey from enquiry through retention.
Hands-on Director-level support after opening.
International standards built into the operation.
Director-level support for charter fleets, brokerage operations, and hospitality-led charter programmes. The same discipline applies on the water as on the dock.
FMD is led by operators who have opened, run and optimised some of the region’s most recognised waterfront assets.
Certified Marina Manager with extensive experience leading marina operations and projects across the UAE and international markets. Philip specialises in optimising performance, streamlining systems, and delivering exceptional service standards.
Senior marina and luxury waterfront leader with 20+ years in the GCC. Senior Director on the pre-opening of Bvlgari Resort Dubai, launching the brand’s first yacht club; GM of Jeddah Yacht Club & Marina, taking Saudi Arabia’s first luxury yacht club from construction to full operation; and GM of M Marinas by Porto Montenegro across multiple UAE sites.
Experience shown reflects the individual professional backgrounds of FMD’s senior leadership and current advisory engagements.
Large-scale luxury marina operations and berth-holder experience.
Bvlgari’s first yacht club in the Middle East — pre-opening of the club, marina and three F&B outlets.
Saudi Arabia’s first luxury yacht club — construction to full operation; F1, America’s Cup and Red Sea Film Festival delivery.
Multi-site UAE marina management under an established elite brand, to international standards.
Systems, SOPs, software, training and management support.
ISO-certified marina operations, workshop, repair yard and charter activity.
We do not look at the marina in isolation. We look at the entire waterfront ecosystem.
Real-world operating experience.
Operational challenge to technical design.
Membership, hospitality and club strategy.
Pricing, revenue and destination positioning.
UHNWI service and premium guest experience.
From construction to operational readiness.
Gold Anchor, Platinum, Superyacht Ready and environmental pathways.
Senior expertise deployed according to the project.
Philip Sather is a Certified Marina Manager (CMM) listed in the Global Marina Institute CMM Directory and the founder of the Fractional Marina Director model. With 20+ years of marina and luxury hospitality experience, including Director of Operations at Dubai Marina Yacht Club, he leads FMD as a senior marina consultant for owners, developers, and operators worldwide.
A Certified Marina Manager (CMM) is a credentialed professional recognised by the Global Marina Institute for expertise in marina operations, safety, commercial performance, service standards, and accreditation. Philip Sather applies this credential as a Fractional Marina Director and consultant, delivering Director-level leadership without the cost of a full-time hire.
No. This is a hands-on fractional leadership role. The work is delivered through weekly outputs such as SOPs, dashboards, reports, contract reviews, staff training material, software workflow improvements, financial commentary, operational recommendations, and marina readiness planning.
No. This service is designed to support the existing team, not replace it. The on-site team remains responsible for daily operations, customer interaction, vessel movements, inspections, safety checks, and local management.
Yes. Pre-opening support is a core focus — helping ownership and management teams build the right operational structure before opening. This covers team structure, recruitment guidance, SOPs, marina rules and regulations, software system review, berthing strategy, customer journey mapping, commercial contracts, safety standards, reporting templates, budget support, staff training, and preparation towards Five Gold Anchor readiness.
Yes. The same Director-level discipline applies to charter fleets and charter operations — commercial strategy, SOPs, crew standards, owner reporting, and guest experience design. Charter operators can engage on the same retainer structure.
Typical first engagement: a two-week Operational Design Review of your marina and waterfront plans — fixed scope, fixed fee, delivered before the next design freeze.