Insights from the Dubai Leisure Yachting Conference
All the news to come out of the 31st Dubai International Boat Show
Dubai Boat Show - March Newsletter
Last month, The Dubai International Boat Show (DIBS) returned from Dubai Harbour, the venue that has served as the event’s base for the last four years, and will continue to do so next year when DIBS returns in its new April slot, a scheduling decision owing to the Holy month of Ramadan. The event, almost peerless in terms of scale, was even larger this year, expanding its exhibition space by 20%, commensurate to the rise of activity in the Arabian Pensisula. According to Trixie Lohmirmand, VP of the Dubai World Trade Center, the UAE has witnessed a rise of 12.3% in yachts visiting in the 2023/24 season. The show continued to be a launchpad for shipyards to showcase and announce their latest works. Sunreef presented the Ultima 55, the first yacht produced at the builder’s UAE facility, while Ocaeanco announced LILY, the next creation from the Beyond Custom line, and Benetti had two new launches with Project Life and the B.Loft. Meanwhile, Gulf Craft took the opportunity to unveil eight new models, whilst also having 18 models on display at the Superyacht Avenue.
All the best for March, and happy Ramadan to all who celebrate,
Faisal
For sales and general enquiries: faisal@maritimeobserver.com
Website: maritimeobserver.com
On the eve of the Dubai show was the annual Leisure Yachting Conference, also known as a repository of insight shared by executives and stakeholders from near and far. Over the course of the morning, moderators presented key questions on the state of the Middle East market, how to create destination appeal in the coming years, how to accommodate today’s ultra high net worth individual, fostering sustainable luxury, and whether the region has carved it’s own lane or whether it is still in its learning phase. All of these are old questions, but now posed with greater frequency and a higher level of intensity as the UAE market continues its ascension in the superyacht industry, alongside the emergence of other markets, including Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Qatar, now coming in with their own nautical offerings. The number of superyachts in the region overall has increased by 20% in the last 5 years.
“Response Time in Money:” Attracting Boat Owners
In the first panel, Gregor Stinner, CEO of Arte Di Mare, discussed the importance of client satisfaction in the superyacht business, with a perception taking hold that the variety of UNHWIs in today’s landscape has raised the bar for stakeholders. To that point, Stinner says that owners will not spend time managing their boats, and some don’t know what they require, lending credence to the increasing importance of recruiting and training in the avenues of maintenance and third-party management in order to grow the industry. Although yacht management remains limited in the Middle East, Stinner posits.
While the idea of having efficient rapid response capabilities presented by Stinner makes one piece of the pie in the overall strategy, there are key driving factors that extend beyond infrastructure, according to Wayne Shepherd, General Manager of Dubai Harbour. These include ease of access, residential options, and availability of yacht facilities such as fuelling. Shepherd addressed the ongoing construction works, a project that will develop dedicated entry and exit points at Dubai Harbour, and explained that, although causing disruption, it will ultimately prove worth it when completed in a few years' time.
Establishing Destination Appeal - Is Chartering The Secret Sauce?
The region’s charter market appears to be on the right path, a business that is expected to grow at a CAGR rate of 5% from 2023 to 2028 - although it is a sector that is still unripe in certain regards. Taking to the stage for the second panel, Founder and CEO of agency Royal Yachts Mohamed Al Zaabi outlined a number of areas for growth for the current Middle East charter sector. For one, charter accessibility remains limited, a process only made more arduous by the existing manual process of gathering information from each owner, which is leading to inaccuracies, as opposed to the established automated platforms in Europe, Al Zaabi reasons. This point was only amplified by Al Zaabi’s ideas for thinking more expansively about what a cruising itinerary in the UAE can look like: tapping into under-utilised areas in the broader emirates and deploying key international players to help showcase the region’s cruising grounds.
Jo Assael, Yachts Commercial Director at the Marshall Islands Registry, echoed Al Zaabi’s sentiments, not only to bring in international experts but to learn from their practices as well, citing the example of how 7-day charters won’t necessarily work in the UAE as they do in the South of France. On developing markets, Zaabi went on to point out the differences in charter contracts. Where established hubs rely on standardized contracts - such as the Worldwide Yachting Association (MYBA), for example - that protect both parties, the arbitrary charter agreements used in the Middle East expose parties to risk, and their unclear terms often lead to disputes. Finally, Al Zaabi brought up the frustrations surrounding the commission and pricing structure, which is leading to inconsistencies and causing doubt to brokers.
On the topic of laboring comparisons between the Caribbean and Dubai as rival winter destinations, the panelists did not see the two as competitors, as each caters to a different set of clientele. One advantage that could be utilised by UAE is to make synergistic use of it’s neighbouring cruising grounds; to try and marry the Red Sea and the Arabian Peninsula, an entreaty suggested by Stinner, who dilated on the fact that Dubai’s offering as a destination remain limited, and more exchanges would make the region more attractive. He believes charter houses may be the ones to lead this front. Captain Patricia Caswell seconds this notion, observing more yachts staying in the area and suggesting the opportunity to package Oman, Qatar, and Saudi as cruising destination.
When it came to local owners, the panelists discussed the purchasing power of the Middle East, which is expected to have 28.3% of UNWHIs by 2028. Stinner foresees a new trend of family offices establishing bases in Dubai, as the number of yacht owners remains on the rise - particularly in the UAE, given that it accounts for 45% of the UNHWIs in the region. Many owners consider having a second vessel in the area, as Middle Easterns often identify with their own territory, Stinner says. To rationalize the rise of owners from the area, James Jaffa, Managing Partner at Jaffa & Co, points out that there is now a noticeable geographical split in wealth that is divided between the United States and the Middle East, leaving “a void in the middle”.
Progress of Sustainable Efforts
Present in every panel was the discourse of sustainability in the superyacht industry Captain Caswell, who is the general manager of Gulf Craft’s Superyacht Service Centre, discussed the shipyard’s 360-degree approach to sustainability, from the way yachts are manufactured to a materials and services perspective and staying cognizant of cooling facilities while yachts are on the stands. Meanwhile, Shepherd pointed out the intersection of technology and recycling, noting the efforts done by the marina’s pixie drone, which collected 15 kg of waste out of the Dubai Harbour’s waterways. The marina reached 75% of their eco-friendly targets in 2024, setting sights for 80% in the coming years.
On sustainability from the client’s point of view, Abeer AlShaali, Deputy Managing Director at Gulf Craft, says that owners are happy to have eco-friendly features in their vessels, although practical considerations, such as the type of battery, may be off-putting to some. These days, having green credentials can also be leveraged as a selling point, according to Jad Zakkak Migliorini, Chief Marketing Officer at Azimut, who says that turning sustainability into a feature by tapping into the prospective buyer’s emotions can yield strong results. Migliorini expounded on the emotional aspects of marketing, a strategy that has gained prominence with the trend of the average age of owners dropping from 70-65 to 45 years. He believes that engaging the younger generations with desires they were not considering could be a way of bringing them into the superyachting lifestyle.
Dubai International Boat Show Moves to April for 2026 Edition
The Dubai International Boat Show (DIBS) has been appointed a springtime date for its 2026 edition. Due to adjustments owed to the Holy month of Ramadan, The 32nd edition of DIBS returns on Wednesday, April 8th, and runs until Sunday, April 12th, in its current home, Dubai Harbour. This marks the fifth consecutive year that the event emanates from the venue after a long-term deal was announced last year.
Azimut Expands to Saudi Arabia with Elite Yachts
Following a successful showing at the 31st Dubai International Boat Show, Azimut Yachts announced its expansion to Saudi Arabia through an existing dealership with Elite Yachts. This also marks the introduction of the Azimut Concierge Service in the Kingdom, an offering created to enhance the ownership experience of Azimut’s clientele with a 24/7 multilingual team. Plans for a new service center in Dubai are being developed and are expected to open soon.
Second Edition of Qatar Boat Show Announced for November 2025
Following the success of the inaugural Qatar Boat Show in 2024, Old Doha Port has penciled in the event’s second edition for November 5- 8, 2025, at Old Doha Port Marina. The first show garnered more than 23,500 visitors and saw exhibitors from 11 countries with 74 vessels displayed across the 250,000 square meter venue.
Several Regulatory Announcements Made for Foreign Flagged Yachts Visiting the UAE
Coming out of the 31st Dubai International Boat Show, several key regulatory additions concerning foreign-flagged vessels entering the UAE. As announced by the Dubai General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA), Dubai has introduced a Golden Visa Scheme for superyacht owners, streamlined six-month crew visas, and mobile marinas to fast-track entry and exit clearances.
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