Abuzz with High Value Sales Underlining Its Reputation as Hub for Marine Business
Dubai International Boat Show extends agreement with Dubai Harbour with plans to expand and grow further
Dubai International Boat Show, the Middle East, Africa and Asia’s largest and most established maritime show, has wrapped up following a hugely successful week of high value boat sales, important discussions addressing industry developments, groundbreaking agreements and partnerships set to shape the future of the yachting world. Show happened from 28th February to 3rd March, 2024.
The exhibition is recognised as one of the most influential boat shows in the world and has accelerated the international yachting industry during its five[1]day run, proving why Dubai has fast become one of the most sought-after marine leisure tourism hubs.
We look at some of the biggest developments throughout the five-day celebration of all things maritime:
Top sales
Evidencing the Dubai International Boat Show as a platform to connect major boat builders with HNWI and UHNWI, major sales were made by Athaus Yachts, who sold their Lamborghini 63 built by Tecnomar Yachts, hull #19 to a UAE expat. Upon sharing this exciting news Beatrice Chiardi said: “It has been an exciting show with really strong negotiations nearly closed from day two onwards. We’ve welcomed younger visitors from different countries at our stand this year, with the potential to buy. This show is the place to be in terms of meeting people from the industry and it really is the best place in the world to be, to work together.”
Gulf Craft Group has sold multiple of its iconic vessels during the show, from its award-winning Majesty Yachts, renowned Nomad Yacht, and sleek Silvercraft and SilverCAT brands with many more deals in the pipeline. Furthermore, we proudly unveiled our latest advancements, staying attuned to international trends and demonstrating our commitment to evolving alongside the industry.
Abeer AlShaali
Deputy Managing Director
at Gulf Craft Group
SanLorenzo, which also sold three yachts at the exhibition, highlighted the show as a platform to reach new potential buyers and long-standing clients alike for impactful sales. “We are extremely happy this year, as we have welcomed more people than last. And we are happy that this is the first time we have three SanLorenzo boats represented at the show, as compared to last year, and all three of them were sold. Next time we hope to bring even more,” said a representative of SanLorenzo.
Abeer AlShaali, Deputy Managing Director at Gulf Craft Group, commented: “Gulf Craft Group has sold multiple of its iconic vessels during the show, from its award-winning Majesty Yachts, renowned Nomad Yacht, and sleek Silvercraft and SilverCAT brands with many more deals in the pipeline. Furthermore, we proudly unveiled our latest advancements, staying attuned to international trends and demonstrating our commitment to evolving alongside the industry.”
MTM Group, which is participating at the show for the 18th time, sold over 10 jet skis, and have promised to return again next year upon seeing the incredible response that has been increasing annually. Bassem Wazafi, General Manager of MTM Group, said: “The sales we‘ve seen this year at the show have been a result of the incredible organisation of the show itself. It was the best I think, so far. We’re going to continue next year as well and we’re going to rebook.”
Most important trends
Varied visitors and buyers were welcomed by exhibitors with multiple yacht builders recognising the diversification in this year’s edition, seeing an increase in European and Arab prospective buyers.
Sustainability continued to be in focus for the Dubai International Boat Show with exhibitor Sunreef presenting two fully electric yachts – electric sail and electric power. Demonstrating its commitment to providing excellence with safety for the environment, the yachts follow an energy efficient concept with sustainable air energy saving air conditioning and elements of the yacht made from plant-based composites. Artur Poloczanski, Public Relations Director At Sunreef Yachts, said: “I’m most excited about announcing our Ras Al Khaimah shipyard at the Dubai International Boat Show. We started out over 20 years ago in Poland and now we’re branching out into the UAE. This follows our news from last year when we announced the opening of our Dubai office.”
Azimut’s ‘green path’ already includes the first fuel cell tested on board, the first hybrid yacht and a fleet of Low Emission Yachts, as well as the alliance with Eni Live (Eni Sustainable Mobility) for the decarbonisation of yachting to supply HVOlution. Enrico Chiaussa – Azimut Chief Commercial Officer EMEA APAC, said, “The yachting industry is undergoing a revolution in terms of sustainability, a topic which is increasingly important to clients all over the world, and we have been leading the way in this direction for years. Sustainability is inherent in Azimut’s DNA: for more than two decades we have been investing towards this goal and developing the best available technologies to make a real difference.”
Landmark agreements
The decision to host Dubai International Boat Show at Dubai Harbour for its 31st edition was agreed on site with Trixie LohMirmand, EVP – Dubai World Trade Centre, and Abdulla Binhabtoor, Chief Portfolio Management Officer at Shamal Holding, the owner and curator of Dubai Harbour, confirming a long-term partnership that provides the global yachting community with further opportunities for growth.
Through this boat show we have been able to initiate talks and negotiations to have representatives and ambassadors for Al Fajer Marine in Australia, Maldives and the UK. If
Ali Khreis
these negotiations get confirmed in the future, they would be the first of its kind for Al Fajer Marine – a result of this incredible boat show.
Promotion Manager at Al
Fajer Marine
Members-only boat club, The Captain’s Club, announced its plans to expand from Dubai into Kuwait, evidencing the development of the regional maritime sector and the impact the Dubai International Boat Show has on professionals in the maritime sector. Zaid Shouly said: “As CEO of The Captain’s Club, I am thrilled to unveil our groundbreaking franchise partnership with Al Boom Marine, heralding the launch of our prestigious annual membership services in Kuwait. This exciting collaboration represents a monumental leap forward in our mission to extend our maritime excellence beyond the UAE’s shores. Together with Al Boom Marine, we are empowering enthusiasts in Kuwait to embark on unforgettable boating adventures, delivering the same unrivalled standard of excellence and dedication to quality that defines The Captain’s Club.
Marine Services One, a leading UAE provider of yacht repairs, refits, and marine equipment distribution for leisure yachting, announced the addition of three new partners to its portfolio during the annual event: Italvipla, Osmosea, and Tikal Marine Systems. The announcement expands the company’s capabilities to deliver for its clients and offer more comprehensive solutions, superior quality and value for money.
Proudly UAE: Local Brands Led the Charge at Dubai International Boat Show
Exhibitors from the UAE shone as visitors from all around the world marveled at yachts and product displays by Gulf Craft, Dubai Police, Al Fajer, and Dubai International Marine Club. After three decades as a strategic platform enhancing the global appeal of the UAE’s homegrown marine sector, a host of the country’s most innovative brands proudly showcased their latest luxury lifestyle products at the 30th– anniversary edition of Dubai International Boat Show – the region’s largest and most established marine lifestyle event – which ran until Sunday 3 March at Dubai Harbour.
Loud and proud
Nestled between Hypercar Avenue and the event’s dedicated Fishing Village, the Proudly UAE section of the 30th Dubai International Boat Show amplified the country’s maritime heritage and showcased its best locally made vessels, nautical products, and innovations.
Dubai-based Al Suwaidi Marine (ASM) launched two new fishing boat vessels: a 36- foot craft and a smaller 31-foot sport craft. For Mohammed Al Suwaidi, ASM’s Chairman, leveraging this year’s event to unveil the two boats was a straightforward decision.
“This was the biggest boat show in the region, so for me, every boat builder should have participated,” said Al Suwaidi. “The title ‘Proudly UAE’ was very nice because we were indeed proud to be from the Emirates, and we were also proud to introduce our products here for the first time. Launching our new vessels at Dubai International Boat Show ensured we attracted more attention, which they deserved because they were very good quality craft made right here in the UAE.”
Racing excellence
Visitors flocked to see two spectacular racing boats designed and manufactured by the Dubai International Marine Club (DIMC) in collaboration with Dubai’s world-famous Victory Team. Doubling up as both exhibitors and activation leaders, DIMC led the Dubai Fishing Competition for Kingfish and Cobia, as well as the event’s dedicated freestyle and HydroFly competitions.
Dubai Police
Synonymous with its fleet of eye-popping supercars, the prestigious Dubai Police wowed local and international visitors with its fleet of premium sea[1]based vessels. Showcasing excellence in law enforcement, the fleet included the award[1]winning racing Jetski which had participated in world championships, a pioneering Jet Car capable of speeds of up to 80 km an hour on water that was a favorite in UAE National Day celebrations, as well as the official patrol boat.
UAE boat builders in the spotlight
Al Fajer Marine, one of the UAE’s largest boat builders, reported a host of global interest in its vessels including European buyers hailing from Germany and Spain, as well as GCC-based client prospects. The company launched at the show the S-Class 90, and the Sunrise 60. The former measured in at 92 feet and could go up to 45 knots, while the latter was 61.5 feet and could get up to speeds of 27 knots.
Legacy show partner, Gulf Craft, which had 15 vessels at this year’s event, reiterated the significance of Dubai International Boat Show reaching its 30th-anniversary milestone at a time when population and infrastructure growth had established Dubai as an essential sales point for superyacht manufacturers all over the world.
Abeer AlShaali, Deputy Managing Director of Gulf Craft, said: “For Gulf Craft, Dubai International Boat Show was our home show. We felt a strong connection to the event – we believed in it, and we believed in the power it had for the entire industry. I had been personally having meetings since the day before the show with different stakeholders around the world, talking about the importance of this show. It brought together clients, boat builders, suppliers, associations, like SYBAss. I thought it was a great opportunity for us in the MENA region to really discuss what was going on in our industry. This was where we got to display our boats and impress our clients and the wider city of Dubai which had really opened its arms to the marine industry.”
Taking place until March 3 at Dubai Harbour, Dubai International Boat Show showcased an extensive array of international marine attractions from more than 1,000 different brands, including 400 new companies. And over 200-plus crafts by the world’s leading yachting companies.
The Top Trends and Themes From: Dubai International Boat Show 2024
From VR tours and Gen Z command centers to the need for patience with hydrogen, last year’s Dubai International Boat Show progressed the nautical narrative
Over the past three decades, Dubai International Boat Show has evolved into the Middle East’s most renowned yachting event, setting trends, driving change, and heightening focus on underrepresented issues and themes. Last week, the region’s largest and most established marine lifestyle show celebrated its 30th anniversary until March 3, with the show once again setting the agenda for the region’s maritime industry.
Whether it was virtual tours of private superyachts or engaging live demonstrations of new tech, insights into generational differences in boatbuilding or spotting modern Italian style on the show floor, we looked at some of the key trends, themes, and things to see at Dubai International Boat Show 2024 that made it such a must-attend event for maritime enthusiasts, industry professionals, and the curious public.
Livin’ La Vida Luxuriously
The co-located Marine Luxury Lifestyle exhibition was a celebration of high-end maritime living, showcasing everything from regional destinations such as Yas Marina and Saudi Arabia’s NEOM, to Maui Jim sunglasses and Middle Eastern clothing brand Carter & White, which specialized in Egyptian cotton. Visitors could immerse themselves in opulence, with displays showcasing the best in nautical affluence and marine technology. At the Seakeeper stand, guests could view engaging live demonstrations of the company’s innovations, designed to ensure stability in the water by reducing boat roll and pitch. As Ryan Albers, Director of Sales & Support at Seakeeper Ride, said: “The most obnoxious part of boating is the rolling or the slam of the bow as the waves come. If you could eliminate 70-80 per cent of the violence occurring, it makes boating more pleasurable and keeps you and your guests on the boat for longer.”
The Generation Game Forget Hemingway and his Old Man and the Sea, last year’s Dubai International Boat Show was all about appealing to younger generations. In the air-conditioned main tent, amid the Formula One cars and strutting influencers, Australia’s Echo Yachts allowed visitors to strap on a Meta Quest 3 headset, virtually step aboard its 84m White Rabbit superyacht, and explore every inch of the largest trimaran the world had ever seen. Down on the show’s impressive Superyacht Avenue, Feadship’s Chief Marketing Officer Farouk Nefzi gave another insight into the preferences of the younger generation. Feadship’s concept yacht Pure featured a windowless command center filled entirely with screens. “When we unveiled this, older captains said: ‘No windows; no way!’” said Nefzi. “But the younger generations were the opposite. They were like: ‘Yes! It’s the ultimate gaming console, I love it!”
Translucent with a Tint of Green
Whether it was a trimaran that used 40 per cent less power than a similarly sized monohull to achieve the same top speed or a vessel with a solar-paneled roof that generated the energy to run its interior electrics, the focus more than ever was on the environment. Like many manufacturers, Dubai-owned Gulf Craft Group experimented with the use of hydrogen propulsion, but Mohammed Alshaali, chairman of Gulf Craft, said it would take time. “This is a process not a decision,” he said. “You cannot just decide to move from diesel or gasoline to electric or hydrogen overnight, but the damage to the environment done by the yard is something like 0.002 per cent, so it’s very minimal compared to other sources of threat to the environment. That said, we hoped to launch something soon.”
International Interest
From St Kitts & Nevis to Bulgaria, a host of national flags fluttered in Dubai Harbour last week while exhibitors had traveled in from more than 55 countries, including four debut nations in the form of Austria, Finland, South Korea, and Sweden. Yet for those walking through the tented area, visitors could be forgiven for thinking they had been transported to Italy. The central walkway featured brand representatives from more than a dozen Italian companies such as Zar Formenti, Fidema Group, and the Italian Trade Agency. Italia Yachts’ Fabio Pignatelli attended last year’s DIBS and said this year he had noted a jump in the number of people with genuine interest in learning about boats from other parts of the world. “Here in Dubai, I can see there is a real passion and curiosity to understand the boats and the industry in general. This is different from Italy and it is very nice – to see, to discuss, to share information,” he added. From St Kitts & Nevis to Bulgaria, a host of national flags fluttered in Dubai Harbour last week while exhibitors had traveled in from more than 55 countries, including four debut nations in the form of Austria, Finland, South Korea, and Sweden. Yet for those walking through the tented area, visitors could be forgiven for thinking they had been transported to Italy. The central walkway featured brand representatives from more than a dozen Italian companies such as Zar Formenti, Fidema Group, and the Italian Trade Agency. Italia Yachts’ Fabio Pignatelli attended last year’s DIBS and said this year he had noted a jump in the number of people with genuine interest in learning about boats from other parts of the world. “Here in Dubai, I can see there is a real passion and curiosity to understand the boats and the industry in general. This is different from Italy and it is very nice – to see, to discuss, to share information,” he added.
Room with a View
While the show had more than 200 boats on display last week, exhibitor and show partner Sobha Real Estate had grabbed with both hands the opportunity to put its latest marine-based project in front of ultra-high net worth individuals and show that terra firma could still hold appeal. Located at Dubai Harbour and set for completion in 2026, Sobha Seahaven would be a premium sea-facing destination with ultra-luxury 1-4-bedroom apartments and exclusive amenities. With prices starting from Dh3.2m and rising to as high as Dh135m for one of its three penthouses, the Sobha sales team were in high demand last week. Curiously, Sobha staff said Arabs were not among the top three nationalities purchasing the apartments – instead, Russians, Indians, and Chinese were the three moving quickest to snap up their latest investments off-plan.
Taking place until March 3 at Dubai Harbour, the Dubai International Boat Show showcased an extensive array of international marine attractions from more than 1,000 different brands, including 400 new companies.