Dubai International Boat Show Generates Biggest Sales Of The Year

March 24, 2010 - PRLog -- Leisure marine companies from all over the world have announced their best sales in recent times at the 18th Dubai International Boat Show.

Multi-million dollar sales were recorded at this year’s show, with a number of superyachts, including the AED 72 million Sunseeker 38 metre Special Edition, being purchased on-site as consumer confidence returns to the market.

“The outstanding business that was done at this year’s Dubai International Boat Show is a clear indication that the leisure marine market in the Middle East is on the road to recovery,” said Helal Saeed Almarri, CEO, Dubai World Trade Centre. “Consumer confidence is back and the Dubai International Boat Show has played an important role in stimulating demand and reinvigorating the leisure marine industry as highlighted by the impressive number of deals conducted at this year’s show,” he added.

Among the more than 700 companies at this year’s show that made strong sales included Al Masaood, Al Yousuf (Yamaha), ART Marine, Gulf Craft, IMG Boats, Mercedes, Sebile, Sun Marina and Sunseeker.

The Dubai International Boat Show, which was visited by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the UAE Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai; His Highness Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of Dubai Executive Council, His Highness Sheikh Maktoum Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler Of Dubai and His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairman of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation, took place at the Dubai International Marine Club (DIMC) from 9 – 13 March 2010.

“This is our best ever result at the Dubai International Boat Show,” said Francesco Pitea, General Manager, Sunseeker Middle East LLC. “It was a great start to sell the Sunseeker 38 metre Special Edition on the very first day and we have confirmed further sales across the course of the week. There are many buyers across the GCC looking to purchase the best quality from the best brands. The Dubai International Boat Show has played an integral part in returning the industry to a strong position.”

This year’s show was the platform for 15 Global Launches and 25 Regional Premiers, highlighting the importance of the Dubai International Boat Show to the global leisure marine industry.

ART Marine, the Middle East’s largest importer and distributor of luxury motor-yachts, also reported an excellent response at their stand.

“The Dubai Boat Show is the main event of the year,” said Constantinos Constantinou, CEO and President of ART Marine. “The show attracts customers from the entire region which for ART Marine is very significant as we are a regional company; we just have to be here. Dubai is one of the key boat shows on the world calendar. We saw a number of serious buyers who came to the show. We are working on a number of deals that are pretty much done while some are still in the making. We are seeing new buyers and that is a great signal that the market is starting to come back.”

Gulf Craft was another company with a big presence and the companies COO, Erwin Bamps said that they had confirmed many deals during the five-day event: “We have already finalised four orders and five more are currently under negotiation. We know a lot of people will go home, compare notes and come to us. The Dubai International Boat Show is where we launch our new products to the world. People have to be able to meet face to face and that can only happen at events like this.”

One of the biggest attractions at the show was the Silver Zwei, the fastest conventionally-powered motor yacht in the world, and at 73 metres long, it was the largest boat ever to be shown at the event.

The Silver Zwei was showcased at the Dubai International Boat Show by BehneMar, the maritime arm of Behne Middle East Investment holding. BehneMar is the first consulting firm for high-end motor and megayachts in the region.

“The show was fantastic, we have been really happy,” said Christopher Behne, Managing Partner, BehneMar. “Dubai is a destination hub for yacht owners, especially those in the bigger sectors. We are very happy to bring the boat to the show and we have been delighted by the response from everybody.”

In the Superyacht Pavilion, Westport was one of many international companies to report positive news from their participation this year.

“Westport visits shows all around the world and it is the organisation and brand that makes the difference,” said Philip Purcell, Vice President, Sales, Westport. “The Dubai International Boat Show is up there with the best. We have met with at least 25 to 30 serious clients who are interested in our brand and over the next couple of years we will do business with many of them. That is an outstanding result. It has been a great show.”

Sales at the show were not restricted to the superyacht section of the show. Exhibitors from all sectors reported buoyant sales.

“It has been a exceptional show. We have seen so many people from the GCC and Levant region and we have had many very serious enquiries from further a field, including from Morocco and Tunisia,” said Waleid Ateir, General Manger, Sun Marina. “We have done more than AED one million of business during this year’s show with people from all around the world and we get to promote our products to a very wide international audience.”

“We are very happy to see everyone is keen to create a successful show despite the recent global crisis,” said Ammar Al Wafi, General Manager, Al Yousuf Motors (Yamaha). “It proves that the economy is either steady or improving. At this year’s Dubai International Boat Show we launched the dry berthing programme and we were delighted to conclude more than 20 deals for boats and wave runners. We have seen great interest and will run the scheme now through until September. We have also welcomed visitors from as far a field as India and Africa with a couple of contracts signed with overseas companies.”

Companies from within the DMEX (Dive Middle East Exhibition) also closed the show having enjoyed outstanding business opportunities.

“We are seeing many more people become members this year,” said Ibrahim Al Zu’bi, Environmental Department Director, Emirates Diving Association. “We have been signing up between 15 and 20 people each day and we have also signed contracts with four dive centres in the UAE – all of which were generated at the Dubai International Boat Show. We have also seen a noticeable increase through the show for the ‘Discover Scuba’ programme; the response has been amazing for the free test dive demonstrations. We have also signed very important partnership deals with and Malaysia and Djibouti to cross promote our diving packages.”

Riding high on the remarkable sales transacted at this year’s show, many of the companies are already making their participation commitment to return for next year’s event. Dubai International Boat Show once again looks set to become the biggest highlight of 2011 in the region.

For more information www.boatshowdubai.com

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