Seatrade Middle East Maritime

by Jeni Bone on 10 Jun 2008 SMEM, the premier sales and networking platform in the Middle East, is the gateway to buyers in the UAE, Bahrain, East Africa, Egypt, India, Iran, Jordan, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia.

The Middle East’s boating industry is enjoying unprecedented growth. Creating the gateway is Dubai and the Dubai International Boat Show (DIBS) each March, the largest exhibition in the Middle East for the leisure marine industry.

The Middle East region has over 150,000 yachts in total, with local factories accounting for approximately 15 per cent of world production, reports say. Local distributor Emirates Yachting has seen a 500 per cent growth in the past two years.

The Middle East has never been more focused on its one-stop maritime trade hub ambition – or more alive with an abundance of business opportunities.

Top players from the world’s boating and shipping communities are using forums including Seatrade Middle East Maritime (SMEM), this year between 14 & 16 December, to access supplier markets for products and services into and out of the region.

Positioned in the heart of one of the world’s richest regions, the emirate of Dubai hosts the largest concentration of local and international businesses in the Middle East. Dubai International Convention & Exhibition Centre (DICEC) is located in the seat of the business district, surrounded by business, hotels and restaurants.

SMEM is set for further expansion in 2008, reflecting the strong growth forecast for the size of the fleet managed or controlled in the region.

'We will monitor the expansion of the fleet, in each of the principal industry segments, when planning the 2008 program,' explains Christopher Hayman, Managing Director of the organizer, Seatrade.

'This will capitalise on the momentum built up in the general shipping, cruise and SuperYacht conference sessions this year.'

More than 300 executives from 40 countries attended SMEM’s conference, addressed by over 60 leading international maritime experts.

'SMEM has evolved into one of the world’s fastest-growing maritime events and now ranks among the industry’s Top 10 largest. SMEM is the leading international forum in the region and, as the Middle East’s maritime industry develops, the event is set to evolve in tandem,' says Hayman.

This bullish forecast for the event came at the close of SMEM 2006, which was the biggest yet, notching up record attendance. Approaching 6,000 trade participants attended from 63 countries, 45% of whom came from outside the region.

'SMEM 2008, which will run from 14-16 December, will be even bigger, following this year’s overall participation increase of some 30%,' explained Hayman.


General shipping:
Dubai Maritime City, the purpose-built new development for the city’s maritime cluster that is rapidly taking shape on reclaimed land at the heart of the waterfront, exhibited with a giant scale model on display for the first time ever. SMEM visitors were also offered an opportunity to visit the site itself, to see how construction is progressing.

DP World, now the third largest ports operator in the world, with 51 terminals in 24 countries, was also a very active SMEM participant.

Chairman Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem opened the exhibition and toured the floor, while group officials made several presentations in the conference. These outlined not only expansion projects overseas – as far afield as Vietnam, India, Turkey and Peru – but also progress closer to home where cargo volumes at Abu Dhabi Terminals have risen 20% and productivity 45% since DP World took over management.

Information on one of the most significant developments yet on the Gulf’s general maritime scene was announced during SMEM – the impending official formation of the UAE Shipowners Association.

President elect Sharafuddin Sharaf outlined the aims and structure of the new body at the Seatrade Dubai International Maritime Awards gala presentation dinner, on Monday 4 December, where over 800 guests crowded into the banqueting hall of the Grand Hyatt Hotel to applaud companies rewarded for best practices in their respective sectors.

Cruise:
'SMEM 2006 was extremely good for our business as we could announce the homeporting of European cruise majors Costa and Aida and also meet top international cruise operators,' said Awadh Al Ketbi, Acting Manager, Dubai Cruise Terminal, DTCM.

'We are also considering expanding the cruise conference by a day to reflect developments within the region and sound-out international industry needs.'

Aris Zarpanely, Executive Vice President Strategic Development of the USA’s Silversea Cruises said: 'The conference provided a better understanding of the rather obscure regional cruise market and Dubai’s leadership position. The masterplan developed will encourage others in the region to follow this forward-thinking emirate.'

Zarpanely called for the region to establish its own cruise industry association – Cruise Arabia - with Dubai taking the lead.

Costa Croceire, Europe’s leading cruise operator, the first cruise major to homeport ships from Dubai in this region, said it is expediting the evolution of the Arabian Gulf as a winter cruise destination.

'The show enabled us to meet the right agents and speak to people from around the region to influence their governments to further promote the cruise industry,' said Giovanni Onorato, Costa’s President.

SuperYacht:
SMEM’s SuperYacht conference signalled massive growth in the Middle East’s profile, with huge expansion in marina infrastructure.

Erwin Bamps, Executive Manager, Gulf Craft Inc said: 'SMEM was timely as we required a platform to share our concerns and thrash out a blueprint for the burgeoning SuperYacht industry. We were able to discuss fleet profile, demand growth for newbuildings, the charter market and SuperYacht financing.
Exhibition:

SMEM 2006 spanned 3,500 square metres to accommodate 235 exhibitors from 35 countries. Companies from Bangladesh, France, Germany, Libya, South Korea and Holland were among newcomers to the show.

Western Marine Shipyard Ltd, from Bangladesh, said its participation had been extremely worthwhile. Mohamed Sakhawat Hossain, Managing Director said: 'We were in two minds earlier about coming to SMEM but after our successful visit here we are also looking at participating in Sea Asia, to be held in Singapore next year. We developed excellent leads which we are confident will convert into new contracts.'

France Telecom, the mobile satellite communications provider, was on the look-out for partners and contracts from big vessel operators. 'Many of our target audiences were present here at SMEM,' commented Udo Grether, Sales Support Manager.

A six-strong South Korean contingent also reported contacts with new business partners: 'We are confident that, by SMEM 2008, we will have established strong ties with the multi-billion dollar industry in this region,' said Chae Kwan Sun, Business Supporting Manager.

In the show’s closing hours, the Saudi Arabian Lubricating Oil Company closed a deal with Middle East Shipping Management Company to supply four million litres of lubricating oil. 'We met Middle East Shipping for the first time at SMEM,' said Walid A Bin Swaid, Regional Manager, Saudi Arabian Lubricating.

More at www.seatrade-middleeast.com