The Dubai International Boat Show 2023 is ended with a great success. This year’s DIBS was the biggest edition of the event to date and one of the most prominent marine events of the year. As the meeting point established industry leaders and exhibitors and innovative new voices, DIBS 2023 has already produced various exciting headlines and happenings since day one of the event on March 1 2023.Exciting superyacht concepts and brand-new launches have flooded in over the first few days of the Dubai International Boat Show, with leading brand names choosing the show as the perfect place to unveil their latest ideas and creations with the superyacht community. With the event officially over, some of the world’s leading superyacht brands have exhibited their latest and most impressive luxury vessels at the beating heart of DIBS, Dubai Harbour. Leading names, such as Beneteau, BehneMar Yachting, De Antonio, Ferreti, Gulf Craft, Lagoon, Ocean Independence, Riva, Sanlorenzo, Silent Yachts, Sunreef and Sunseeker Gulf among many others, have presented brand-new and innovative vessels at the Dubai International Boat Show 2023. Queen of the lineup is the 68.2-metre Abeking and Rasmussen built motor yacht Soaring, presented by Ocean Independence at DIBS. She is the biggest yacht that has been presented at DIBS 2023 so far, and also boasts the highest price tag, valued at €88 million.Photo: Didier DidairbusThe UAE-based shipbuilder Gulf Craft presented the highly-anticipated 34.1-metre superyacht Majesty 111, the blueprints of which were released at last year’s event. A surprise new edition to the Gulf Craft fleet, the 30.1-metre superyacht Nomad 101, was also presented on day one of DIBS 2023.Abeer Al Shaali, Deputy Managing Director at Gulf Craft, said DIBS 2023 has been “phenomenal” so far. He explained, “We’re seeing a huge influx of crowds, some of whom are visiting us for the first time, which is really exciting. The two yachts we brought to the show have already been sold, and we have many serious leads looking at making purchases. I don’t think we’ll leave here without selling at least three or four yachts.”Azimut chose DIBS 2023 to present the Gulf Premiere Fly 68, the Fly 53, and larger vessels such as the S10 and Grande 27M. Enrico Chiaussa, Azimut Head of Sales for Asia Pacific, Middle East and Africa said, “The Dubai International Boat Show is an appointment we can’t miss. We have created an extremely robust and widespread network of professional and exceptionally high-level service points, ensuring we offer our yacht owners outstanding, dedicated service.”
Among the various launches, concepts and models, are the Beneteau Grand Trawler 62, De Antonio D46, Ferretti Yachts 780, Lagoon Catamarans SEVENTY 8, Riva 88’ Folgore, and the Riviera 72 also debuted during day one of the show. In addition, Sanlorenzo Yachts premiered the 110 as well as the SL86, and Sunreef Yachts revealed its 60 Power Eco and its Eco 80.BehneMar Yachting, the superyacht consultancy and official dealer for Cigarette boats in the Middle East, debuted the region’s first Cigarette power performance boat at this year’s DIBS. Tim Trenker, Chief Executive Officer of BehneMar Yachting, predicted that the debit would “rock the market in the weeks, months and years to come.”
He continued, “We are very pleased with the Dubai International Boat Show. I see a lot of further growth potential, and I forecast that we’ll soon be using both sides of the marina – one just for superyachts and one for yachts under 34 or 40 metres.”With the Gulf region quickly gaining status in the superyacht world, superyachts are in higher demand than ever before, and more news and updates are anticipated as the week goes on. The show’s success and consistent growth are indicative of this demand, and of the growing influence of the Middle East region in the superyacht world.
Written by Jessamie Rattray, SuperYacht Times