Dubai: The 22nd Dubai International Boat Show came to a close Saturday, with 750 exhibitors from 50 countries have seen strong sales figures and attendance at launches of their boats, products and accessories.
Families and youth made up a large number of the thousands of visitors from the 70 countries who attended the region’s largest marine leisure exhibition, as well as influential buyers and high net worth individuals across the GCC.
By the end of the Dubai International Boat Show 2014, the show hosted 42 total global and regional launches.
At the show, visitors checked out the 430 boats on display, including 19 superyachts, in the waterfront Marina Display, as well as the extensive outdoor display area. Hauling in the largest number of visitors are the Nirvana and Quattroelle, two of the show’s largest-ever superyachts, as well as some of the world’s most beautiful and unique marine craft.
Show sectors included The SYBAss Lounge, organised by the Superyacht Builders Association (SYBAss), Marina Display, Outdoor Display, Luxury Supplies and Services, Equipment Supplies and Services, Dive Middle East Exhibition, Supercar Promenade, and the Heritage Village sponsored by the Dubai Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing.
Key partners include Italian luxury watch brand Officine Panerai as Supporting Partner, Mercedes-Benz as Official Car Partner, and ART MARINE as Marina Display Partner. Bombardier, the world’s only manufacturer of both planes and trains, is the exclusive sponsor of the LSS indoor pavilion.
The UAE is trying to position itself as a leading manufacturer of boats, according to Saeed Hareb, vice president of the Dubai International Marine Club. There are 25 boat manufacturers in the UAE, he said.
The UAE is ranked ninth among the world’s top ten yacht-building countries, according to ShowBoats International Global Order Book 2014, an annual report by Boat International.
