Sailing high on new deals

Dubai International Boat Show opens up a bright and
progressive frontier to the boating industry

More than 250 exhibitors including an impressive line-up of international players make the Dubai International Boat Show special.

There aren't many occasions to see some of the world's most exclusive and luxurious super yachts lined up next to speedy sport cruisers, powerful motorboats and other lesser-known members of the marine community.

There also aren't many opportunities to meet some of world's biggest super yacht manufacturers such as Luerssen from Germany and Amels from the Netherlands, or regional fibreglass boat and yacht manufacturers such as Gulf Craft Inc., and the regional distributor of leisure yachts, ART Marine - all under one roof.

The Dubai International Boat Show (DIBS), being held from March 13-17 at the Dubai International Marine Club (Mina Seyahi) will provide opportunityies for both.

The Dubai International Marine Club is known for its good infrastructure and facilities.

"Visitors have better access to see the boats on display in the water as well as on the dry pits. The vast expanse of area that we have is second-to-none in Dubai.

"The event has also more than doubled where exhibitors and visitors are concerned. This, in itself, speaks of the international profile of the event," says Saeed Hareb, Managing Director, Dubai International Marine Club and head of Hareb Marine, a leading boat manufacturing company in the region.

New exhibitors
Erwin Bamps, Executive Manager, Gulf Craft Inc, says, "As organisers of the event, The Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC) is the only boat show organiser in the Gulf and larger Middle East that has been focusing on developing this event into a truly international boat show with a global exhibitor and visitor profile and a professional ambience.

"The vision of the organiser, and the fact that Dubai is the trading and marketing hub of the larger Middle East, make the show the highlight of the year for all potential boat owners in the region."

This year, the event has been expanded by more than 35 per cent to accommodate new exhibitors, including some of the leading international boat groups such as The British Marine Federation, Mauritius Marine, The National Marine Manufacturers America and UBI France.

These groups will share space at the DIBS with IMEX, Australia; DBSV, Germany; UCINA & ICE, Italy; HISWA, The Netherlands; NZ Marine, New Zealand; and the Isle of Wight Chamber of Commerce, UK.

Growing demand
Visitors will have access to more than 250 exhibitors including an impressive line-up of international and regional motorboat, yacht and super yacht manufacturers and distributors, sports and marine equipment manufacturers and suppliers, charters, brokerages and interior design companies.

They will be housed in four main show areas such as the marina display section, the indoor and air conditioned luxury supplies and services area and the external area, which will house smaller craft. The fourth important section at the event is the equipment supplies and services area.

The fact that the exhibition has areas dedicated to allied sectors of the boat and yacht industry shows the growing presence of companies that offer such products and services in the region.

"Over the years numerous boat builders from Europe have invested heavily in the UAE due to a growing demand for leisure craft of all shapes and sizes. This has given an impetus to related industries involved in the sales and services needed for boats," says I J Singh, Deputy General Manager, Gulf Development Systems, a marine electronics and communications equipment company.

"Today, you can find any make and model of marine equipment for boats here," says I J Singh.

These factors have also contributed to making the DIBS an ideal platform for regional and international members of the marine and boat industry to announce their products and services to visitors from Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, India and Russia.

"Every year Gulf Craft uses this event as a major launching platform for new products. The 2007 edition promises to be just as interesting as our launches in the past.

"Apart from showcasing its renowned line-up of smaller leisure craft under the Gulf Craft and GC marine brand labels, the company will also highlight its Oryx sport cruiser series with renewed interior and exterior finishes in its 2007 edition," says Bamps.

Customers who will be looking forward to the new features added on to the Majesty Yachts range won't be disappointed either.

Gulf Craft will also showcase its new Majesty 56, a luxury family motor yacht, which is expected to be a 'hot' seller, based on the success of its predecessor the Ambassador 55 and the high market expectations for the updated version of this popular yacht size.

"We are displaying one of our latest Majesty 118 super yacht releases, while two other large yacht world premieres are scheduled for Gulf Craft during this event," says Bamps.

Mega yachts
Gianfranco Venturelli, General Manager for Victory Team, says that in addition to showcasing their product and capabilities as boat manufacturers, the company is also looking forward to gaining invaluable marketing information on the demand for their products as well as the current market requirements.

"We will have our 46-foot Victory Team fast fishing boat at the stand as a static display. Though not a part of the exhibit, we will also have the P-56 and the P-46, both of which are high-speed fast intervention crafts in the area," says Venturelli, who expects to consolidate the interest in Victory Team's boats on a broader, international scale at the event.

Gulf Development Systems will also be exhibiting at the event and will showcase equipment from Raymarine, and its other principals including Raytheon Anschutz (Germany), Martec (France), FLR (Netherlands) and Glocom (USA).

"Most of the equipment is meant for high seas ships but they are equally important for mega yachts, which use International Maritime Organisation (IMO)-approved navigation and communication equipment due to the area of their operations," says Singh and Commander (retired) Sudhir Tuli, Sales Manager, Gulf Development Systems.

Sutton Woods, an international yacht brokerage and consultancy, which provides professional representation to Edmiston & Company, Sunseeker Sales Group, North Sea Boats and Avon Inflatables, will also be at the event.

"The boat show has always been a great platform for us to display and sell our products and services, and to expand our client database. We expect this year to be no different," says Cassidy Woods, Director, Sutton Woods.

While the luxury yacht and leisure craft displays promise to be crowd pullers, industry professionals can also look forward to key local and international delegates talking about the important trends and developments in the industry relevant to the Middle East at the 3rd Gulf Boating Conference, which is being held in conjunction with the boat show.

Divers and marine leisure aficionados can also look forward to the Dive Middle East Exhibition (DMEX) 2007, which is a result of the joint efforts of the Dubai International Boat Show (DIBS) and the Emirates Diving Association (EDA).

Facts
At a glance...