Abu Dhabi Yacht Show named one of global “big three”

by Jeni Bone on 28 Feb 2010 The world's biggest yacht builders have indicated that the Abu Dhabi Yacht Show (ADYS) – the Middle East's only show dedicated to super and megayachts – is the “next big thing” rising to the heights of the Monaco and Fort Lauderdale events.

Held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, the event attracted industry leading marques, including Blohm + Voss, Trinity Yachts, Feadship, Oceanco and Lürssen.

Such is the region's and the show's potential in serving it that elite US builder of custom superyachts Trinity Yachts has announced its opening of a Middle East regional office on Yas Island - its first overseas operation outside its Gulfport, Mississippi home base.

'We are very encouraged by Abu Dhabi, as it is building the infrastructure to turn this city into a real yachting destination. Our move here is an indication of just how bullish we are with this market,' said Trinity's Vice-President William S. Smith III.

Germany's Blohm + Voss Shipyard says the Middle East continues to be a buoyant market for custom-built yachts of between 80-100 metres. The company's Christian Schwarzwälder commented, 'Considering that on average we sell one vessel a year, this is a very important market to consider. We are already very well known in this region on account of some of our more prominent builds, such as the 105m Lady Moura, built for a client in Saudi, and the 80m Golden Odyssey, also built for the Middle Eastern market, and the interest in private yachts of this size still exists and that's why we are here.'

Show newcomer, Turkey's Dunya Yachts believes ADYS is a main port of call for any industry player wanting a foothold in the region. The company has chosen the second Abu Dhabi Yacht Show to offer for sale for the first time the 88m Ken Freivokh designed megayacht Blade.

'As a company with business concerns exclusively in the megayacht sector, we felt that having a presence in the Middle East required participation in this show, as the only yacht show focusing on larger vessels. We currently have two megayachts under construction, and many of the other shows in the region do not really meet our needs. We were at Monaco, then Fort Lauderdale, and now here at in Abu Dhabi - the big three covered,' said Dunya's Esra Tarlan.

Edmiston, a global leader in the sale and charter of larger yachts, having received keen interest from the show says the importance of the Middle East market is 'ever-increasing', and that 'people have been looking around' during the three-day event. The market, says Edmiston's James Lloyd, is also showing signs of recovery.

'Prices were increasing all last year. Around 18 months ago the market collapsed, but I would say prices are back up to the level before the crash at the moment. There were a few new builds on the market and interest all last year. The prices are just a reflection of demand,' he said.
For Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority (ADTA), headline sponsor of the elite event which is organised by the Informa Yacht Group, the industry feedback is a vote of confidence in the emirate's ambitions to be a superyacht hub and up-market marine leisure destination.

'This is great news. To be ranked alongside other destinations and shows which have an established and long-held industry pedigree is a huge leap forward. The show's move to Yas Marina has demonstrated that Abu Dhabi is capable of providing best-in-class infrastructure on a par with some of the best in the world and our whole marine leisure proposition can only go forward from here,' said Ahmed Hussein, Deputy Director General, ADTA.

'We still, however, have a long way to go but the industry in Abu Dhabi is progressing with numerous marina facilities, and for after-sales suppliers this is a new market opening and a great opportunity to get in on the ground floor.”