Dubai tops charts as global maritime leisure destination
Dubai has recently made waves in the global maritime leisure industry, as Norway-based Manon Business Group announced that the emirate has become one of the top ten maritime capitals last year, and 5th in terms of competitiveness and attractiveness. The emirate continues to innovatively combine state-of-the-art waterfront properties and leisure-friendly initiatives to further enhance the experience of visitors from around the world and resident water-enthusiasts alike.
With an influx of waterfront projects already underway and new, recreation-friendly policy initiatives that aim to support the maritime industry from end-to-end, Dubai is well on track to fulfill Manon’s prediction that it will become one of the world’s most important maritime destinations by 2022. The global maritime community will turn to Dubai from February 27th to March 3rd this year, as the Dubai International Boat Show begins at the newly opened Dubai Canal.
"Integrating and streamlining Dubai’s maritime leisure products will have positive implications for sea-goers in Dubai, visitors and residents alike. It builds on our already existing achievements of raising the attractiveness and competitiveness of Dubai as a world-class marine destination. With the support of our partners, we are confident that we will realize the objectives of ‘Sea Dubai’ of developing state-of-the-art facilities, clear policy structures and generating new job prospects in the maritime leisure industry," said Amer Ali, Executive Director of Dubai Maritime City Authority.
Dubai’s position as a leading maritime destination is further strengthened by the wave of waterfront developments with best-in-class amenities and marina projects that quickly giving the shorelines of the UAE a dramatic lift. The Dubai Harbour project alone will include a 1,400-berth marina and will increase Dubai’s capacity for handling yachts by almost 50 percent from the current 3,000 berths in the Emirate. It will also add the capacity to handle larger yachts of up to 85 metres in length.
The Dubai Canal, the site of the upcoming 2018 Dubai International Boat Show, has also bolstered Dubai’s position as a maritime capital. The 3.2km extension ranges 80 to 120m in width and cuts through Dubai’s main artery, the Sheikh Zayed Road, across Safa Park and into the residential Jumeirah district, connecting with the Arabian Gulf. This adds 6.4km of waterfront to the emirate and creates 80,000 sqm for public space and facilities.
