Berth Explosion as Dubai goes Yacht Crazy

by Nadia Saleem/Sail-World Cruising on 15 Mar 2008 In the planning for Dubai based Nakheel Marinas are not 400 marina berths, not 4,000 marina berths, but an astonishing 40,000 marina berths, as they plan their future exclusively with Island Global Yachting (IGY)

'More than 1,500 berths will come into the market this year,' said Michael Horrigan, CEO for Middle East and Asia of IGY, which is a developer and manager of marina properties and yachting lifestyle destinations. IGY designs, delivers and manages the marinas for all of Nakheel's waterfront developments in Dubai.

'Two marinas will come online in August this year - The Anchor East and Anchor West at Palm Jumeirah. The births will deal with small- to mid-sized boats.

Plans are also underway for mega-yacht facilities and luxury marinas on The Palm islands, Waterfront, and The World.


The first mega yacht marina will come online early next year at Palm Jumeirah on the west side of the palm truck. 'No other marina in the world comes close to equalling what this marina will be. This will be an icon in marinas,' Horrigan said.

Next year 3,000 births will be available and 4,000-5,000 births will be ready in 2010.

The marinas are being planned along with other aspects of Nakheel projects. 'We master-plan the marinas in the very early stages of the overall waterfront developments,' Horrigan told Gulf News.

'Palm Deira has two marinas in advanced design stages, targeted to come online before the end of 2008.'

Regarding the availability of the 40,000 births, Horrigan said it depends on the market demand. 'The time scope for the rest of the births is market regulated,' he said.

'Dubai is the capital of waterfront growth with projects like Palm Jumeirah, Jebel Ali and Deira, Umm Suquiem, The World, Universe and Waterfront. It's everything you could hope for in one place,' he said.

'Dubai intrinsically has a maritime culture through the pearl industry, the creek and the dhow. 'We are only extending that maritime culture into the lifestyle and social aspect of it.'