The Dubai International Boat Show begins a new era from March 10-14 as it takes place for the first time at the brand-new Dubai Harbour, a spectacular venue designed to eventually house 1,100 berths and which is also home to the emirate’s new cruise terminal.
Ahmad Al Ameeri, Abeer Alshaali, Saeed Hareb, Mahir Abdulkarim Julfar, Selcuk BalcI, Tim Trenker and Trixie LohMirmand
Situated beside Palm Jumeirah, Dubai Harbour is located on the site of the former Dubai International Marine Club, where the show was held before relocating to a temporary base at Dubai Canal in Jumeirah for the past two years.
More than 800 companies and brands from 44 countries are exhibiting at the 28th edition of the Middle East’s biggest boat show, which features national pavilions from the US and Italy. Held alongside the 13th Dive MENA Expo, the boat show is starting a new chapter at the same time as the UAE prepares to host Expo 2020 Dubai (October 20, 2020-April 10, 2021).
Saeed Hareb, Secretary General of Dubai Sports Council (DSC) and Senior Advisor to the Dubai International Boat Show, said: “This edition of the Dubai International Boat Show comes at a hugely exciting time, at the start of a new decade in which UAE’s maritime sector holds rich promise.
Imperial is exhibiting the 106.1m Lurssen Amadea, the biggest-ever yacht to appear at the Dubai International Boat Show; Photo: Guillaume Plisson for Imperial
“I’m delighted that the show has returned to its former home, which is now the world-class Dubai Harbour facility. This show takes on even greater significance as the emirate enters the final preparations for Expo 2020 Dubai.”
The show is also breaking new ground by hosting the 106.1m Lurssen-built Amadea, the biggest yacht to ever exhibit at the event. Displayed by Imperial, Amadea exhibits at Dubai less than six months after its appearance at the Monaco Yacht Show, where it was the second-largest boat after the 111m Tis, also built by Lurssen.
More than 150 yachts over 40m are berthed in the Middle East, according to Superyacht Times, and the show’s Superyacht Avenue again features members of SYBAss (Superyacht Builders Association) including Benetti, CRN Yachts, Feadship, Fincantieri, Heesen, Lurssen, Oceanco and Sanlorenzo.
Gulf Craft (pictured at 2019 show) will stage the world premiere of the Majesty 120
The show is expected to feature 28 regional and global premieres among a fleet of 450 eye-catching boats, watercraft and toys such as aqua bikes, electric surfboards and personal submarines.
Gulf Craft, which has been a partner of Dubai International Boat Show since the event’s inception, will showcase models from its Majesty, Nomad, Oryx and Silvercraft ranges including the world debut of the 37m Majesty 120.
Abeer M. Alshaali, Gulf Craft’s Acting CEO, said: “For Gulf Craft, Dubai International Boat Show serves as a catalyst for client networking and we expect that to continue in 2020. This region has a great potential for growth within the marine industry, as Dubai continues to grow its leisure sector and as regulations advance to make the city more accessible than ever.”
A Pershing 8X will be among regional premieres at the Dubai show
Enata, another UAE-based builder, will display the 2020 version of its iconic Foiler, which was billed as ‘the flying yacht’ when the prototype was displayed in Dubai in 2018.
Regional premieres from the world’s leading luxury yacht builders include an Azimut Grande S10, S8 and Atlantis 45, a Pershing 8X and Ferretti Yachts 670 from Ferretti Group, and Princess Y85, V50, F55 and F50 models.