Meraas, a Dubai-based holding company, has announced that it will showcase its industry-defining maritime neighbourhood – Dubai Harbour at the 27th annual Dubai International Boat Show (DIBS) 2019, 

 

To be held from February 26 to March 2 at the Dubai Water Canal, DIBS has become the region’s focal point for all things maritime – from superyachts to marina-style living. This year, the event will feature 98 new exhibitors, taking the show’s worldwide representation to 61 countries.

 

Meraas said the Dubai Harbour, which has been set to the highest international standards, will be the first yachting community hub in the Middle East.

 

Locatedin the heart of Dubai, in the vibrant area between Bluewaters and Palm Jumeirah, Dubai Harbour’s integrated infrastructure is built over an area of 20 million sq ft and will include retail, restaurants, cafés, luxury residences, hotels and Dubai Lighthouse, a 150-m-high architectural masterpiece destined to become a feature landmark building.

 

Designed by leading architects with careful attention to detail, Dubai Harbour’s marina will offer a spectacular cruising ground, with vantage views of Dubai’s distinct landmarks – Ain Dubai at Bluewaters and Palm Jumeirah. 

 

The highlight of the showcase at DIBS will be the three main areas of the 1,100-berth marina – Harbour Marina, Bay Marina and Palm View Marina. 

 

During the event, Meraas will invite yacht owners to reserve their berths in advance in the Q3 of 2019 ahead of the handover of 780 berths in September next year upon completion of the first phase of development at Dubai Harbour.

 

Set to offer DIBS 2019’s privileged visitors an exclusive sneak peek at Dubai Harbour’s maritime luxury lifestyle, the VIP registration lounge will welcome over 6,000 high-net-worth visitors. 

 

At the heart of the lounge will be an interactive masterplan model of Dubai Harbour covering 8.5 m x 6.25 m, giving viewers a true sense for what to expect at the region’s most sought-after marina, come 2020.

 

Yacht-owners will also enjoy a full home-port solution at Dubai Harbour’s marina which features 180 superyacht berths spanning 160 m in length, an exclusive yacht club, a world-class crew club, and state-of-the art service and maintenance facilities at par with global benchmarks.

 

Meraas group chairman Abdulla Al Habbai said: "The breakthrough infrastructure of the future that we are developing at Dubai Harbour will fortify the city’s status as a modern maritime hub, given the extensive range of capabilities it is set to offer on completion to a diverse clientele - from yacht owners to maritime businesses in need of a strategic logistics location."

 

"Inspired by the Gulf’s longstanding maritime traditions and heritage and in line with the vision of the UAE’s leadership, our efforts to offer yacht owners a hub with a complete ecosystem for marina management at par with international benchmarks, with the use of modern technology and professional expertise based in the region, will complement the broader intent to diversify the economy and bring to the emirate a sustainable range of developments" he added.

 

Meraas said its maritime capabilities are further enhanced by a joint venture agreement with D-Marin, in partnership with Dubai Holding. 

 

By managing 11 unique marinas in the Ionian, Aegean and Adriatic seas, D-Marin has created one of the largest international chains of marinas in the Eastern Mediterranean, promoting recreational yachting and developing sustainable businesses encouraging local employment and growth within the economy.

 

Announced in November 2018, the agreement will bring a one-of-its-kind, comprehensive marina management ecosystem to Dubai, providing the capacity to cater to yacht owners from around the world looking to drop anchor in the emirate.

 

The exclusive marina at Dubai Harbour will be the biggest in the Middle East, featuring three distinct marina bays – Harbour Marina on the western side of the neighbourhood, Bay Marina on its eastern side and the smaller Palm View Marina forming the northern tip close to the nearby high-rises.

 

Designed to dwell at the heart of the marina, the Harbour Master Building will be an architectural master-piece forming the essence of the yachting community at the Harbour Marina. 

 

According to Meraas, the promenade at its base would host trendy restaurants, chic cafés, eclectic retail as well as a purpose-built platform to stage special events and performances. 

 

This lifestyle hub at Dubai Harbour will be home to the exclusive yacht club set against the vibrant backdrop of Bluewaters, Skydive Dubai and the signature 150m-tall Dubai Lighthouse.

 

Upon completion of Phase One, this area will accommodate over 560 wet berths for yachts up to 35 metres in length (LOA), with 150 stern-to berths within closer proximity to the promenade and 410 finger berths for patrons seeking more privacy, stated the Duai developer. 

 

An estimated 300-plus berths will be added to the Harbour Marina in Phase Two for yachts up to 30 m in length.

 

The Bay Marina will be Dubai’s first superyacht-dedicated marina, with 180 berths, with over 45 wet berths for yachts over 50 m in length (LOA) and eight wet berths for yachts over 100 m in length (LOA), it stated. 

 

Carefully curated to cater to the needs of more exclusive clientele, this area would offer more exclusivity, a heightened sense of privacy and a helipad with two landing platforms.

 

It will also offer sweeping vistas of the nearby high-rise residences and hotels, the central trunk of Palm Jumeriah and the Mina Seyahi beachfront. Crew facilities nestled within the Bay Marina will include a gym, crew lounge, a bar/hideout and a dedicated marina office, said the statement from Meraas.

 

Finally, the relatively smaller Palm View Marina will cater to the spirit of the community. Hosting 37 berths for yachts spanning up to 50 m in length alongside a promenade and close to Dubai Harbour’s North Beach, this area will offer views of Palm Jumeirah and the neighbourhood’s northern promenade, it added.-TradeArabia News Service