Highlights of the 2017 Dubai International Boat Show

Dubai - Surrounded by more than 400 boats, many of which look like they have cruised right out of the set of a James Bond movie.

A visit to the Dubai International Boat Show can prove to be a bit overwhelming at first. The event this year is special, because the show has reached its 25th year milestone.
Surrounded by more than 400 boats, many of which look like they have cruised right out of the set of a James Bond movie, it is hard not to feel awed. The surprise soon melts away, and excitement sets in as you realise that you are surrounded by the very best that the UAE's marine industry has to offer.
As always, there is a lot going on: The biggest names in the yachting industry proudly show off their new gleaming ships; water sport enthusiasts get in line to see the latest vehicles that will allow them to conquer the waves; and speed demons have plenty of flashy new speedboats to keep them occupied.
The show also featured an extended beach entertainment area dedicated to popular watersports, taster sessions, hands-on boating experiences, and music. There was also no shortage of jetpack, flyboard, and flybike stunts, all sponsored by HydroSports, to thrill visitors.
The latest in hydro technology was also showcased, with robots, submersibles, and water drones on display. Exhibitor PowerVision demonstrated its new PowerRay, an innovative underwater robot that allows users to view real-time transmitted photo or video, and can even be controlled via a wearable device.
The highlights of the show, however, were undoubtedly the 19 superyachts, proudly towering over the rest of the boats. The 77m Silver Fast by Silver Yachts was the main attraction, along with the 70m Joy by Feadship, and the 47m Majesty 155 by Gulf Craft.
Erwin Bamps, CEO of Gulf Craft, noted that there was a growing interest amongst high net worth individuals towards owning a superyacht. Silver Fast itself was available for purchase for a whopping $85 million. The personalisation requests that come along with the orders being placed for the superyachts are quite unique, Bamps says.
"Many buyers ask for a helipad on the deck of their yachts; it's not as uncommon as you would think," he said.
"Others want a garage, because they want to take their beloved sports car with them wherever they go. One buyer wanted a bonfire pit on his deck to sit around with his guests, and another wanted to plant palm trees on his deck. You definitely get a James Bond vibe with many of these luxury yachts."
- rohma@khaleejtimes.com

• Dubai