The second edition of the Qatar International Boat Show (QIBS) is to be held this November under the auspices of HE the Prime Minister and Interior Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al-Thani at Mourjan Marina in Lusail City. The show will be open from 11-15 November 2014.
QIBS Chairman Essa Al Mannai said QIBS 2014 will be double the size of the first show, with more than 30 international exhibitors already confirmed, a huge number of repeat exhibitors, and more boats in the water. As well as the Marina Display, an External Area, Shipyards and Boatyards, Equipment Accessories and Services, there will also be a new section this year devoted to luxury products and services.
Al Mannai added that a total of 60 boats will be on display at the Qatar International Boat Show 2014, including world acclaimed brands such as: Azimut, Sea Ray, Princess, Ferreti, Riva, Gulf Craft, Sunseeker, Prestige, Itama, As Marine, San Lorenzo, Benetti, Sunreef, Esen Yachts, Ares, Lagoon, Amer Yachts, Cranchi, Everglades and more.
Architect Fairoz Al Homaidi, Business Center Director of Lusail Real Estate Development Company said: “We are absolutely pleased to once again be partnering with this world-class exhibition. It’s a great honour, and we are extremely proud to be hosting Qatar’s International Boat Show for the second consecutive year at Lusail Marina”.
The Lusail City development project is one of the largest and most elaborate developments being undertaken around the world, over a substantial area of 38 square kilometers where more than 200,000 residents will live, work, raise their families and enjoy their lives. It will encompass not only new residential, commercial, and retail opportunities, but a full array of community needs, complete with schools, medical facilities, entertainment, marinas and shopping centers, providing opportunity for 170,000 to work in Lusail City.
Jan-Wim Dekker, Managing Director of Nakilat Damen Shipyards Qatar, added : “As a global leader in shipbuilding, with our state-of-the-art facility for building ships in steel, aluminium or glass reinforced plastic up to 170 metres in length, we can see a strong need for Qatar to have its own internationall show, displaying to the world the capabilities of local enterprises in Qatar and the Gulf at large. QIBS is the ideal vehicle for this, and we wish them all success.” Sponsorship requests for the Show have also risen, with strong support being shown from a number of high profile companies and government entities, including: Lusail City, Qatari Diar – the venue for QIBS; Mourjan Marinas IGY – a leading industry provider for marinas and management services; Qatar Airways – which is the official carrier for the Show; ‘World of Yachts and Boats’ – the Show’s official magazine; ‘Sur La Terre’ – the Show’s lifestyle partner; and Ulysse Nardin – the official time keeper sponsor.
Wayne Shepherd, General Manager of Mourjan Marinas – Lusail City said: ‘We are delighted to welcome back the Qatar International Boat Show as the official host venue of this showpiece event. Our role is to support the local boating industry and open it up to the wider community. Following the success of last year’s inaugural event, we believe that the Qatar International Boat Show plays a pivotal part in supporting the continued growth of the industry and boating culture in Qatar.” Ahead of the Qatar International Boat Show, Mourjan Marinas – Lusail City is expanding its capacity to allow a further 48 berths in time for the show. Lusail City It is also currently dredging the seabed by an additional 1.5m, which will allow mega-yachts of up-to 45 metres in length to enter the basin and take up berthing at the marina. Lastly, refuelling will soon be available at Mourjan Marinas-Lusail City, with a new, state-of-the-art re-fuelling station.
Faysal Mikati, Vice President of Snow Comms, said the number of companies that have signed up continues to rise and has once more surpassed all expectations. “We knew from the very start that Qatar’s very own International Boat Show was not a one off event, and will literally take years to become a solid show.
“But we are proud by the fact that after the very first edition of QIBS, His Excellency the Prime Minister and Interior Minister of Qatar, Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa al-Thani, is giving us his full support. And the massive increase in exhibitors who have signed up to QIBS 2014 confirms our earlier belief that many potential exhibitors last year were waiting to see how well the first show would go before committing themselves. So we feel entirely vindicated in our early commitment to staging Qatar’s very own international boat show for the mutual benefit of the marine industry and for Qatar as a whole.” Mikati believes that given the fact that the State of Qatar is rich in natural oil and gas reserves, and that its capital, Doha, is one of the fastest growing cities in the world, no one should be surprised that Qatar’s projected market outlook from now to 2020 is extremely strong. “The successful bid to host the FIFA 2022 football World Cup and the country’s National Vision 2030 are leading to a large number of active projects worth many billions of dollars,” Mikati continued.
“Especially in the marine sector, a series of new projects that will offer hundreds of new berths and respective industry-relevant support services to all boating enthusiasts are already under development and even more are confirmed and starting to being built.
Source : Qatar News Agency
