The stats at the 26th edition of the Dubai International Boat Show held from February 27th to March 3rd speak for themselves – the largest number of visitors yet (26,389), 350 exhibitors, over 800 brands and some big sales , with UAE-based Gulf Craft alone reporting over 23 million USD worth of transactions during the show.
That’s not too shabby, especially considering this year’s edition was successfully pulled together against all odds in a temporary new location by the Dubai Canal with minimal prep, in record time. With all the glitz and glamour associated with DIBS unmarred – particularly Superyacht Avenue, an uninterrupted continuum of elite vessels with custom features and amenities to outdo the next – it’s clear there is a deep-rooted , enduring, passion for the seafaring lifestyle in the Middle East.
“Only three months ago, people were thinking this would be impossible, as it was all just desert and sand here,” reveals His Excellency Saeed Hareb, Secretary General of Dubai Sports Council and senior advisor to the Dubai International Boat Show. “But I knew it could be done. Our goal is to make this one of the top boat shows in the world, not only because this is the place that connects the whole world, but this is a place where the traditional language and culture is always talking about the sea.”
“I’m a seaman, my whole life has been related to the sea,” he continues. “I was born in a place where I see the sea when I open my eye.”
It is this inherent love of the open waters that makes the seafaring community unique. Yacht aficionados seem to speak a language all their own, sharing an appetite for the sense of adventure that being on a boat offers.
“Yachts are not just about the money. This lifestyle is about true freedom,” explains Carla Demaria, President of Monte Carlo Yachts and the Italian Marine Industry Association. “I usually have trouble sleeping, but when I’m on a boat, I sleep like a baby. I never wear makeup, I enter into a different relationship with nature. It’s a way to escape from our busy everyday lives and really feel free.”
She cites the example of one of her favourite clients, Rafael Nadal, who truly embodies the yachting lifestyle. MCY crafted a customised boat for him in 2016. Named Beethoven, “it’s something simple and minimalist, without too many gadgets and open to the sea”, in a special shade of blue to blend in with the ocean. The 31-year-old has said that his yacht, which he uses almost daily, is the most effective way for him to recover from his high-stress lifestyle. And as someone who grew up near the coast – not unlike Saeed Hareb – the Spanish tennis champion’s passion for boats is probably wired into his DNA.
Whether you are born with that feeling, or develop it over time, once you’re hooked onto the yachting lifestyle, there’s no turning back. As Carla puts it, “you cannot imagine another way to spend your spare time”.
