What it means for the public visiting the show is the chance to view – in the water and as maquettes – a line-up of spectacular big boats not otherwise seen together in the Gulf and sometimes, not seen before in the region. This year, the show’s, organisers are expecting almost 20 yachts above 25 metres to be shown in the water and Oceanco – as one of 11 superyacht builders attending this year – will exhibit scale-models of yachts between 80 and 110 metres that it currently has under construction.
Aside from the supersized toys, the show is refreshingly ‘real’. For would-be boat owners with less stratospheric budgets, amongst the 800-plus exhibitors expected this year, there will be more than 400 smaller boats, offered by producers from all over the world, including 15 UAE-based builders. The show is set up in sections that make it easy for visitors to find the exact category of yacht, water toy or gear they may be looking for.
While the boats are the real attention-grabbers, one of the best parts of the show is the DMEX dive exhibition. It’s the only one of its kind in the region and covers every aspect of diving, from instruction and live demos (in an on-site pool), to local dive-boat operators, the latest equipment and coolest clothing.
Alongside the exhibits, there’s no shortage of other entertainment, including music in the evenings and a great line-up of rare and expensive cars from the world’s most coveted carmakers – many of them customised.
As in the past eight years, VIP visitors are invited to enjoy the private lounge run by Panerai – the Swiss-Italian watch company that owes its existence to the sea. More than a century ago, Panerai began as a maker of high-precision nautical instruments and in the 1930s, made diving watches for the Italian Navy’s underwater commando squad. Their cool and airy pavilion is decorated with mural-sized photographs of classic yachts racing in the regattas that Panerai sponsors in the Caribbean and Mediterranean, making a beautiful contrast to the sleek motor yachts outside and the soaring towers of Dubai Marina that form the show’s backdrop.
The 22nd Dubai International Boat Show runs from 4-8 March 2014; www.boatshowdubai.com
