Boats for sale

A boat show is an ideal way to see, to try and may be to buy a boat. Well, hm, if you are not interested in buying don’t you worry: the bottom line is that a boat show is an extremely beautiful, interesting and engaging event.

The 15th Dubai International Boat Show organized by the Dubai World Trade centre took place at the Dubai International Marine Club on March 13-17.

DIBS is the largest boat show in the Middle East and includes displays of boats, marine supplies, equipment and services from 722 international companies (53% more participants than on the DIBS-2006). This year’s show also featured the first ever Dive Middle East Exhibition displaying merchandise and products of the leading manufacturers of diving equipment, supplies and services with live demonstrations of the latest underwater cameras and communication technologies. Diving grows more and more popular in Dubai and thousands of people come here to try it. The Dive Exhibition was sponsored by the Emirates Diving Association (EDA) that gave a number of demonstrations and a brief insight into what diving in UAE is. Due to the increasing demand for diving activities hotels regularly offer diving excursions so that the tourists could fully enjoy the beauty and the mystery of the Arabian Gulf’s waters. The DMEX participants also focused on the diving trends and particularly on educational and training techniques for children and on promoting responsible eco-friendly diving which should do no harm to the environment.

The exhibition

This year’s DIBS on-water display included 142 luxury motor yachts and sailboats (of the 330 boats displayed). Among the participating manufacturers were also the local ones, namely Gulf Craft, AS Marine, Al Hareb, Al Shaya Marine, Al Yousuf, Art Marine and some others. The international boat manufacturers list included Azimut-Benetti, Sunseeker and Fairline. All that alongside with the warm weather made sure this year’s show would be a genuinely exciting event.

Jumeirah PalmAs the Dubai International Boat Show never stops growing, this year’s exhibition was considerably bigger than the previous one. On the first day the record number of visitors was registered at all four main areas of the DIBS 2007: the Marina Display Area, the Luxury Supplies and Services Area (with the displays of boat builders, waterside developers, interior design companies, charters and brokers), the External Area and the Equipment Supplies and Services Area. Dubai itself is a great attraction and when it comes to the DIBS one can hardly stand the temptation of visiting the show and at the same time see all the famous sightseeing places like the Jumeirah Palm – the biggest artificial island in the world. Dubai is famous for its everlasting interest in boats and sailing (which possibly has something to do with the fact that the waterfront property is becoming increasingly available in the region).

But the show wasn’t all about the exhibition. The 3rd Gulf Boating Conference also took place at DIBS and all the participants agreed that due to the highest regional leisure boat market growth rates ever it’s time that new regulations and rules were elaborated.

During the show contracts were signed for everything from super-yachts to dinghies. After all that’s what they usually do during the shows: business. Thus Fairline Boats presented its flagship yacht, the Squadron 74 custom (retail price is nearly US$ 5 million) and also launched its first Middle East Dubai-based dealership. Gulf Craft exhibited a total 21 boats attracting many buyers and also reports high sales.

And Sunseeker Middle East presented five luxury yachts, among them the Predator 82, a performance motoryacht, elegant and powerful. The interior is as perfect and impeccable as the exterior: salon entertainment centre comprises a flatscreen TV and an audio system; one can enjoy comfortable salon settees and the dining area is an ideal place to relax or chat. The galley is equipped with everything you might need. Cockpit area has a wetbar, icemaker, griddle and sunbathing space. The Predator 82 sleeps eight in four staterooms, each of them with luxurious interior, flatscreen TV, CD/DVD and air conditioning.

International Boat Industry magazine noticed that all international exhibitors were “impressed with the professionalism and potential of the show”. And I suppose so were the visitors and everyone who had something to do with this year’s Dubai International Boat Show.

So if you by any chance have been there you are welcome to comment on the story.



Sources: http://www.ameinfo.com, http://www.yachtingmonthly.com, http://www.boatshowdubai.com