DUBAI // An ultimate diving machine and the smallest drone with a camera were two of the biggest draws at the Big Boys Toys 2014 exhibition.
During the three-day gadget expo, which ended on Sunday, nine orders were made for the Seabreacher, a two-seater submersible personal watercraft that resembles a shark.
“My business partner, Danny Piazza, and I started building the boats as a part-time hobby about 15 years ago, and we have been selling them commercially for five years,” said Rob Innes of US-based Innespace Productions.
“We have built 17 boats, 12 of which were sold in the UAE, it’s definitely a big part of our market.
“We custom build them to order, and once they are completely ready, the boats are shipped here.”
Mr Innes said that the Seabreacher on display was actually a five-year-old model and was borrowed from a customer in Saudi Arabia for the exhibition.
“I’ve seen similar concepts and ideas and have always wanted to make something like this, something enclosed that can make you feel like a dolphin, shark or killer whale,” said Mr Innes.
Firas Dahlan, chief executive of Dar Al Tawasol, the company that distributes the watercraft in the Middle East and Africa, said that the cost of the product starts at US$115,000 (Dh422,389).
“We have had nine orders for the Seabreacher since the launch of the Big Boys Toys exhibition,” he said, adding that one person alone ordered seven items.
“We have sold 12 of the water craft in Dubai and Abu Dhabi. It’s definitely a products that fits into the country that has a lot of water activities and islands, it’s a fun hobby,” said Mr Dahlan. “This product is for those who love adventure.”
The Seabreacher comes with a one-year warranty, a year’s insurance, one-year registration as well as a one-year concierge service.
“The concierge service means that we take care of the maintenance and service and will deliver it to the customer whenever he wants to use it. Otherwise, we store it for him at our warehouse in Al Quoz,” said Mr Dahlan.
Another gizmo that proved a hit with the crowds was the Micro Drone 2.0, a lightweight, palm-sized drone that can perform aerial stunts.
“This is the smallest drone on the market with a camera so far,” said Vernon Kerswell, managing director of Extreme Fliers, who make the product. “The nice thing about this product is that it’s very affordable. Everybody can own one.”
The Micro Drone 2.0 is usually sold for Dh600 but was reduced to Dh450 at the three-day exhibition.
Mr Kerswell said that his company planned to make the product available for purchase in the UAE next month.
“We had met with three distributors here in Dubai, and we have agreed with one to launch the product together and make it available in 30 stores across the emirate,” he said.
One customer bought 10 of the drones as gifts. At least 140 were sold over the three days of the exhibition, Mr Kerswell said.
He said that the drone came with accessories, including a camera and a 2GB memory card and is rechargeable via USB.
M Ezzat, 19, who purchased one of the drones, said he was enamoured with it the second he saw it at the exhibition.
“I really thought it was an incredible product,” he said, adding that he owned a number of drones but none as small as the Micro Drone.
“Because of its size, and because it is very light, it seems like it is durable and won’t break if it falls.
“It’s not expensive, and I think it would be a great addition to my collection.”
dmoukhallati@thenational.ae
