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A visitor studies a model of a yacht at the Rainsford Saunders Design stall at the Abu Dhabi Yacht Show last year. Image Credit: Gulf News archive

Abu Dhabi: Participation of 24 of the world's most impressive super-yachts has been confirmed in the second Abu Dhabi Yacht Show to be held on February 25-27.

This underscores the event's and the emirate's mounting stature on the global yacht show circuit, Informa Yacht Group, organiser of the event, said in a press release yesterday.

The line-up includes Silver Zwei, the world's longest all-aluminium yacht at 73 metres; the slick, 48-metre, Walter Franchini-designed Ellix Too and the elegant Trident, a 65-metre testament to the marriage of form and function.

There will also be the beach house-inspired, 58-metre M/Y Outback, the 60-metre Linda Lou, 39-metre Red Sapphire, 48-metre Australis, 43-metre Le Yana and the 67-metre Allure Shadow. They will berth at the show's new home — Abu Dhabi's Yas Marina.

"The list is by no means complete, as negotiations are under way for several more entries," said Franck Dailles, group director of Informa.

"What is certain, however, is that the number of participating yachts will exceed last year's successful inaugural edition, when 21 luxury vessels were afloat."

The presence of the world's top super-yachts is being seen by Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority (ADTA), headline sponsor of the event, as a resounding vote of confidence.

"This, and the growth in the number of marinas, yacht builders and brokers, as well as other yachting- and marine-related businesses in the emirate, is strengthening the city's claim as a global super-yacht player on a par with leading centres in the Mediterranean and the Caribbean," said ADTA chairman Shaikh Sultan Bin Tahnoun Al Nahyan.

This year's show is also expected to welcome more international exhibitors, many of whom are returning following a successful showing last year.