on 4 Mar 2020
Global fears over Covid-19 force new date
This year’s Dubai International Boat Show scheduled for March 10-14 has been postponed until Nov 24-28 due to evolving global developments around the Covid-19 coronavirus, according to the show’s organisers.
“Dubai World Trade Centre has been closely monitoring the situation, particularly as it pertains to our key stakeholders and participating delegations from around the world across all our upcoming shows. Whilst the UAE remains completely safe for travel, and has deployed the strictest medical and hygiene protocols, we fully recognise that for some specific shows, we have a high majority of key participants significant to the event’s programme that are unable to travel due to restrictions in their home country.
“As such, we have been working closely to assure that our clients’ needs are most effectively addressed, and the delivery of strong international participation considered, in these extraordinary times,” the organisers posted on the show’s website.
The Dubai show is the Middle East and North Africa’s largest leisure boating event and one of the world’s most influential gatherings for the global yachting community. The new dates in November mean it will be held at its new home – Dubai Harbour, the region’s largest luxury marina and most-advanced cruise terminal.
The November dates also tie the show in with Expo Dubai 2020 (Oct 2020 to April 2021).
“With the event now rescheduled in November 2020, Dubai International Boat Show shall operate at full capacity and will also coincide with this year’s most highly anticipated global event – Expo Dubai 2020, enabling even greater and more inclusive access for all,” organisers say.
The decision comes after much consultation with the event’s main participants and industry stakeholders, who have strongly endorsed the organisers’ prioritisation of the collective interests of both the global exhibitors and the key buyers from the region.
“November is a wonderful time for our global yachting business and the simultaneous organisation of Expo Dubai 2020 and Dubai Int’l Boat Show will co-create new opportunities and heighten interest in the region’s leisure yachting lifestyle appeal,” says Lurssen Sales Director Michael Bremen.
Gulf Craft, the Dubai show’s largest exhibitor based in the Emirates, is delighted that the boat show’s new dates will coincide with Expo Dubai 2020.
“Mobility and sustainability are key pillars of Expo and fit within our values as a business and we believe it is a great opportunity for Gulf Craft to present our forward-thinking and future vision as one of the exemplary international home-grown superyacht brands in UAE to thousands of new visitors eager to discover the great achievements and appeals of the region’s leisure marine hub,” says Abeer Al Shaali, the Acting CEO of Gulf Craft.
“Dubai Boat Show has rightly prioritised the interests of the yachting community by settling on a November time for the event,” says Tim Trenker, CEO BehneMar Yachting. “The confluence of Dubai Boat Show at a fully operational Dubai Harbour in parallel with the great Expo Dubai 2020 show is a world-class act.”
Dutch yacht design studio Vripack, hosts of the VriThink’s Night Out that’s part of the Dubai boat show, are also pleased with the precautions taken and that a Nov date for the 2nd VriThink’s Night Out will be announced later.