By Rafiq Vayani
DUBAI: H.H. Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, President of Dubai Civil Aviation Authority, today officially opened the 26th edition of the Dubai International Boat Show at its stunning temporary home at the mouth of the Dubai Canal in Jumeirah.
Held from February 27th to March 3rd at the Dubai Canal, next to the Dubai Ladies Club, the Middle East’s number one leisure marine and lifestyle event attracts thousands of boating and marine lifestyle enthusiasts.
The continued success of the Dubai International Boat Show and its importance to the region is reflected in the strength of Dubai’s maritime industry.
The annual show acts as a global platform for brands to showcase their products to potential clients from across the Middle East and beyond.
This year UAE companies will be well represented with Gulf Craft, the largest superyacht builder in the Emirates, bringing a selection of its most stunning vessels to the Dubai International Boat Show, including the show debut of its magnificent Majesty 140 among other launches.
Enata will also be showcasing its new UAE-built Foiler boat – a flying yacht which promises a super smooth ride on its hydrofoils – to customers and visitors during the event.
In a real first for the show, Burgess Yachts has revealed that it will be accepting payment for its 37-metre Nordic Star, built by Italian manufacturer CRM, in the virtual currency Bitcoin.
Helal Almarri, Director General of Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing and Dubai World Trade Centre Authority (DWTCA), said: “The Dubai International Boat Show lives up to its standing as the leading maritime and marine leisure event in the region and will this year be enjoyed at its temporary new home on the Dubai Canal.
“Each year the event showcases the finest launches and latest advances in boating and marine technology by important companies from across the region and the world.
“As well as serving the Middle East’s growing maritime community, the Dubai International Boat Show introduces new audiences to the freedom, excitement, and joy a marine lifestyle can offer.
“Now in its 26th edition, the show has firmly established Dubai’s position as one of the world’s leading leisure marine destinations.”
Plans for new marinas and harbours in the UAE will help to boost the country’s position as a must-visit marine destination by creating thousands of new berths which will appeal to superyachts and medium-size leisure craft owners.
The companies exhibiting their products at this year’s event will welcome thousands of visitors who are keen to invest in new marine equipment. A survey of visitors to the 2017 edition of the show found that almost a quarter of attendees intended to purchase a boat at the event while more than a third of all purchases made over the five days were for boats.
As the Middle East’s premier marine industry event, the Dubai International Boat Show is selected as the location to officially launch new superyachts and mid-sized leisure craft. This year is no different with 43 global and regional launches planned.
As well as the hundreds of boats on show, the Dubai International Boat Show will feature a display of flyboard stunts by extreme water sport athletes Bo Krook and Manea Al Marzooqi. There will also be a demonstration by slackline walker Alex Mason.
The Dive Middle East Exhibition (DMEX) will once again be co-located at the Dubai International Boat Show, with regular features including the Supercar Promenade, Marine Art Gallery, The Beach food, drinks and entertainment venue and the retail village also returning.
Visitors will also be able to enjoy food trucks, the Seakart Time Attack Experience, paddle races, and sailing trips along the Dubai Canal while Dubai’s coolest beach club, Nikki Beach, will keep the over-21s entertained with live DJ performances when the sun sets at its pop-up venue.
The new location means the show is easier to get to than ever with lots of parking for visitors who choose to drive and bus and water taxi stations nearby.
The 26th Dubai International Boat Show at the Dubai Canal is open to trade visitors and the public from 3pm – 9:30pm daily from February 27th to March 3rd, 2018. Tickets will be available at the gates priced at AED 65 each. Family tickets are available at AED 160 (two adults and two children over 12) while government employees can attend the show for AED 50 per ticket.
