Boatbuilders hope waterfront developments in Dubai will lure more on to the water

Boat builders are hoping a raft of new waterfront developments under way in Dubai will be a boon for sales this year.

Scores of beachfront hotels planned across the country are also spurring interest according to companies exhibiting their craft at this year’s Dubai International Boat Show, which runs until March 7.

The full range of vessels were on show yesterday in the calm waters of Mina Seyahi – from Gulf Craft’s Dh65 million superyacht, the Majesty 135, to semi-rigid inflatables priced from Dh80,000.

The show attracted its fair share of novice sailors drawn by the prospect of spending lazy weekends in the sun off the city’s coastline.

“To be honest with you, I’m not a sailor but as I now live on the water it’s stupid not to be,” said Robert Unwin, an oil industry worker from Canada. “The fact that I see the sea every day has changed my mind. I have looked into mooring fees and they are prohibitive, but maybe I can boat share. I want something that can take my kids and I can use for waterskiing.”

While the massive superyachts and ocean cruisers dominate the eye line at the show, the smaller operators are seeing keen interest from people who normally like to keep their feet dry.

“We produce 300 rib boats a year and will double that number this year, becoming the biggest manufacturer in the world,” said Roy Nouhra, the president of Asis boats.

“We manufacture the boats out of Jebel Ali, all in-house, so we can deliver the product in a third of the time to most rib boat builders. We see the new canal being built as a huge opportunity for us to make inroads into the leisure market with new waterfront developments and residences.

“We have developed a boat for US$25,000 which can be used for all sport and leisure pursuits with a trailer, so you do not need to pay mooring fees.”

Moving up the value chain, Gulf Craft exhibited a new range of cruisers at Dibs called Nomad. The cruisers are 65 feet and 75ft, which the builder has already manufactured, starting at about US$2 million. The difference in the new boats is in the level of luxury and opulence offered, the size afforded once on board and the fuel economy of the new craft.

“We sold 450 boats last year and we expect sales to jump between 15 to 20 per cent just by our presence here at the Dubai boat show and the new range of craft,” said Erwin Bamps, the chief executive of Gulf Craft.

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