Dubai, UAE, December 19, 2018:  The Dubai International Boat Show is readying for 2019, returning to the UAE’s most impressive city with a new look show celebrating all that makes a boating lifestyle so incredible.

 

Heading into its 27th year, the Boat Show – taking place at the Dubai Canal, February 26th through March 2nd – will once again gather the world’s leading manufacturers and distributors of boats, yachts and marine equipment to encourage would-be seafarers to take the plunge and start living their best life on the sea.

 

Held under the tagline “Let’s all live a little”, the hugely popular event will be all-encompassing, catering to every sea-based hobby, interest or profession imaginable. That includes an enhanced dive offering through the show’s 13th annual Dive MENA Expo (formerly DMEX), plus a thrilling new ‘Rad Zone’ packed with the world’s most extravagant sea toys.

 

Riju George, Dubai International Boat Show director, said: “It’s time we all live a little – and where better to commit to that in early 2019 than at the Dubai International Boat Show!

 

“The last decade has seen huge changes to recreational boating. What was once considered a hobby of only the wealthy is now a lifestyle that modern working families are embracing. Yacht buying and chartering is now easier than ever, with small to midsized boats meaning there is such a wide scope, whatever the budget.

 

“But aside from the vessels themselves, the growth in watersports and exploratory sea equipment has more and more people taking to the water.  Our 2019 show will illustrate how much joy and wonder can come from embracing this life by the sea, and we can’t wait to welcome those families keen to discover the yachting, sailing, fishing and all other sea-sport and hobby options that will bring that pleasure to their lives.”

 

The Dubai International Boat show annually attracts more than 400 exhibitors and over 800 brands and companies from 60+ countries. Of the thousands of visitors to the event last year, nearly half visited with the intention of seeing new vessels, while almost a third came to the most of the event’s vast entertainment offering for a fun day out with the family.

 

As per tradition, it will be the show’s incredible Superyacht Avenue – a week-long home to more than 50 of the world’s most exclusive newly built, ready-to-buy floating mansions – that will turn the eyes of the marine world to Dubai next year.

 

Always a huge draw for both the buyers and dreamers alike, the Superyacht Avenue, presented by SYBAss, will feature the latest designs from superyacht-builders including Amels, Feadship, Heesen, CRN, Benetti, Lurssen, Oceanco and Baglietto.

 

Across the show there will be more than 400 small to midsized pleasure craft, exhibited by Gulf Craft, Princess Yachts, Azimut, Feretti, Riviera Boats, Inata, Victory Team and many more international leading builders. These boats are known to start from a highly-affordable AED 100,000.

 

According to a 2018 report by market analysts Frost & Sullivan, the UAE market is the biggest boating market in the GCC, with 20 marinas and more than 10,000 small-to-midsized registered leisure boats. At the 2018 Boat Show, Gulf Craft – the leading Middle East-based yacht builder – sold no less than five yachts valued at AED85m ($23m), confirming the event as the company’s largest generator of sales. The show is famed for providing a week of one-off deals and sales opportunities for buyers. 

 

“We are thrilled to be returning to the Dubai International Boat Show in 2019 after the great success we had at the 2018 edition with sales worth AED 85million,” said Gulf Craft CEO Gregory Yeakle.

 

“The yachting industry in Dubai has never been more attractive. New regulations support the growth of this emerging market and we are excited to explore new frontiers with premiers across all Gulf Craft brands. Gulf Craft has long been an exhibitor at the Boat Show and we are looking forward to another successful year at the Dubai Canal.”

 

As the Middle East’s prime marine event, the Dubai International Boat Show will also invite visitors to experience the many other ways the open sea can be enjoyed, presenting a plethora of watersport kit, diving equipment and ocean toys.

 

The buzzing hive at the centre of that will be the show’s ‘radical’ new Rad Zone – a lagoon of the very latest high-speed sea-toys where flying yachts, underwater scooters, personal submarines and everything in between will set pulses racing. 

 

With more than 154,000 certified divers now residing in the GCC, the Boat Show’s Dive MENA Expo – the Middle East and North Africa’s only dedicated diving industry event, organised in partnership with the Emirates Diving Association (EDA) – will bring thousands of dive enthusiasts together to learn, be inspired, share ideas and discover the latest equipment in the company of diving and technical experts from around the world. An on-site dive pool will ensure the Expo offers the ultimate hands-on diving experience for those wanting to get their feet wet!

 

“The Dubai International Boat Show is the highlight event of the year and one we always look forward to,” said His Excellency Mr. Essa Al Ghurair, Emirates Diving Association Chairman.

 

“We’re very excited for the 13th edition of the Dive MENA Expo, where we’ll learn, be inspired, share ideas and source new equipment, creating opportunities for everyone involved while keeping the familiarity and success of the Dubai International Boat Show’s history. It will connect new strengths and interests from all corners of the world.” 

 

The Boat Show will also host a number of maritime competitions, including the eagerly-anticipated annual Dubai to Muscat Sailing Race, and a Tuesday night DOSC (Dubai Offshore Sailing Club) Race - a fun contest for keelboats. It will also feature a jet-ski competition, and a Dubai International Marine Club-endorsed fishing competition.

 

Trixie LohMirmand, Senior Vice President, Exhibitions and Events Management at Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC) – organisers of the Boat Show – said: “Dubai is changing the face of the leisure marine industry with innovative waterfront projects that have elevated our city and shaped our coast into a must-visit destination for the world. We at the Dubai International Boat Show are proud to be a part of a transformation that is only beginning. 

 

“The taste for the marine lifestyle is only growing, and potential buyers are realising that boat ownership is both affordable and accessible. From the most glamourous yachts in the world, to beautiful leisure and fishing vessels, thrilling live stunts, water sports and the latest in diving technology, 2019’s Dubai International Boat Show promises to be the year’s leading lifestyle event – and we can’t wait to get underway.”