The top league heads for Dubai

Debut list this season includes movers and shakers of the industry

Four of the world's leading global boat groups will be attending Dubai International Boat Show (DIBS) 2007 for the first time this year, underlining the event's increasing prominence on the world stage.

The British Marine Federation, Mauritius Marine, The National Marine Manufacturers America and UBI France are participating in the show.

Helal Saeed Al Marri, Director General, Dubai World Trade Centre, organiser of DIBS 2007, commented: "Dubai International Boat Show is rapidly becoming one of the major attractions on the marine industry's calendar, and the increasing participation of the world's leading boat groups underlines its global importance."

"Such is demand for space in 2007, we have expanded the show by over 35 per cent to accommodate new exhibitors," he added.

They will be joining other international groups in supporting the event, including AIMEX, Australia; DBSV, Germany; UCINA & ICE, Italy; HISWA, Netherlands; NZ Marine, New Zealand; and the Isle of Wight Chamber of Commerce, UK.

Yachting gateway
The increase in space will also enable a higher number of boats on display on water and on land, with an estimated 150 boats set for the 2007 show, an increase of 19 per cent over the last show.

Farouk Nefzi of HISWA Holland Yachting Group, Netherlands, explains: "DIBS 06 gave us a unique opportunity to get in contact with the Middle East yachting industry.

"The industry has shown incredible development and matured in a very short period - if the show continues to grow like this it could easily become the yachting gateway to the region."

DWTC is aiming to display a record number of boats on the water and land.

They have also increased exhibition space for equipment manufacturers, charters, boat fittings and fixtures specialists, communication equipment developers and service providers.

The 2006 event saw record numbers of trade visitors from Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain and Saudi Arabia, in addition to high numbers from India, Russia and Pakistan, reinforcing the increasing internationalisation of the local market.