on 16 Feb 2021
The Middle East's most established boat show is delayed for a second year due to Covid
The next edition of the Dubai International Boat Show – the most established boat show in the Middle East – has been postponed until March 2022.
In a statement, organisers Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC) confirmed that the decision was made due to the ongoing logistical impacts of Covid-19, which have made it hard to move boats around the world.
“After consultation with our clients and stakeholders, Dubai International Boat Show shall reschedule its 2021 edition to 8-12 March 2022 at Dubai Harbour,” said the statement. “The deferment is made in consideration of the evolving regulations and logistics on the movement of yachts internationally, and our continued commitment to providing the maximum diversity and choice of global brands to our regional customers. We look forward to your continued support and welcoming you to our new home at Dubai Harbour next year.”
The show’s venue, Dubai Harbour Marina, is a sprawling new maritime development that recently welcomed its first two yachts. Built on reclaimed land, and located between Bluewaters Island and Palm Jumeirah, the marina covers an area of almost 2 million square metres and is now the Middle East’s biggest marina.
Abeer Alshaali, Acting CEO of leading UAE-based builder Gulf Craft, spoke of his respect for the decision to cancel DIBS 2021.
“Diversity of choices for visitors and safety are always the key considerations for Gulf Craft. so we fully support the decision to postpone the Dubai International Boat Show,” he said. “While we were looking forward to taking part in this leading industry event, we respect and value the focus of the authorities in ensuring the wellbeing of all participants, visitors and staff.”
A similar sentiment was shared by Michael Breman, sales director of Germany’s Lürssen Yachts. “We are delighted that the organisers of Dubai Boat Show consulted us on the global leisure yachting developments,” he said. “It is certainly the best decision for yacht builders globally for the event to take place at a more opportune time.”
This is the second year that DIBS has been cancelled due to the pandemic. The 2020 edition of DIBS, originally set to be held in March 2020, was initially moved to November 2020, but was called off in October.