Rizza Mae Napuli Alinsoot is the General Manager of Sunrise Yachts in Dubai. JONATHAN YBERA/EXPAT MEDIA

In a sea of luxury yachts in Dubai, a Filipina entrepreneur floats a not-so-popular opinion: That these superyachts shouldn’t be just for the rich and famous. “I want people to enjoy the beauty of a yacht cruise, no matter their status,” Rizza Mae Napuli Alinsoot, General Manager of Sunrise Yachts, tells Expatmedia.net. We are aboard their Big Boss, a 90ft superyacht berthed on the Dubai Harbour. Sunrise Yacht’s growing fleet also includes six other luxury yachts for groups of up to 55 people. The yachts were recently commissioned in Dubai’s first Filipino fluvial parade to mark Philippine Independence Day this year. Rizza Mae says her foray into the yacht cruise tourism industry was due largely to the influence of her father, who is a seafarer. “It had always been my dream,” she shares. The long-time Dubai resident left her job as a coffee shop manager to join as a crew member of the yacht where her brother-in-law worked. It served as her training ground and challenged her to upskill. “On my first trip, the boat went in circles, which sent guests on a panic. We later found out there was a problem with the engine. Since that day, I vowed I should at least know how to operate a boat,” Rizza Mae says. She attended a training school in Dubai to learn how to operate a boat and passed the course to get a marine driving license, and subsequently a yacht captain license issued by the Dubai Maritime City Authority. It was then that she met two Indian entrepreneurs who were just starting Sunrise Yachts. She offered to help the duo launch their business. Since then, tours have been smooth sailing for Sunrise Yachts. “We offer competitive prices but we never compromise on safety and hospitality,” Rizza Mae says. Their popular tours include cruises down the Burj Al Arab and Atlantis. During the yacht tour, guests can enjoy the beautiful views of the city while sailing along its coastline. “It’s definitely a unique experience that we aim to make more accessible to everyone,” she says. MM/Expat Media A condensed version of story also appears in the Expat Media Special Edition magazine. To book a yacht cruise or to be an investor, contact Sunrise Yachts on 0529551017. 
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