An industry-defining maritime neighbourhood – Dubai Harbour -- will be launched by Meraas, a Dubai-based holding company, at the 27th annual Dubai International Boat Show (DIBS) 2019 opening tomorrow (February 26).

Set to the highest international standards, Dubai Harbour will be the first yachting community hub in the Middle East.

Designed by leading architects with careful attention to detail, Dubai Harbour’s marina will offer the most spectacular cruising grounds in the world, 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.

Meraas will invite yacht owners to reserve berths in Q3 2019, with 780 berths expected to be ready for handover in September 2020 upon completion of the first phase of development at Dubai Harbour.

Set to offer DIBS 2019’s most 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 metres 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.

Abdulla Al Habbai, Group Chairman, Meraas, 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.”

Maritime Hub

Meraas’ 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, Meraas said.

The need for such infrastructure in Dubai has never been more pressing. According to a report published by Menon Economics and DNV-GL at the end of 2018, the UAE ranked 14th in the world in the maritime sector with an investment of nearly $64.7 billion during 2018. In Dubai alone, the sector’s contribution to the emirate’s GDP stands at $7.3 billion – 7 per cent of the total.

The need for more marinas in the UAE was also exemplified in the findings of a 2018 Superyacht Builders Association (SYBA) report, stating that the region is a major market for luxury yachts. The report highlighted that close to 205 luxury yachts require a berthing length of more than 40 metres - representing 13 per cent of the world's yacht fleet.

Maritime Lifestyle Like No Other

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 masterpiece forming the essence of the yachting community at the Harbour Marina. 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 1, 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. An estimated 300+ berths will be added to the Harbour Marina in Phase 2 for yachts up to 30 metre in length.

Bay Marina

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

Palm View Marina

Finally, the relatively smaller Palm View Marina will cater to the spirit of the community. Hosting 37 berths for yachts spanning up to 50 metres 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.

The marina at Dubai Harbour has been planned to serve a thriving yachting community, replete with a range of thoughtful amenities including satellite marina offices, independent fuel pumps catering to yachts of different sizes, marina management partners on site, seamless wi-fi connectivity, buggy service to berths, ample parking along central piers, sophisticated waste management systems focused on recycling, comprehensive security and marine storage facilities.

Located right in 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-metre-high architectural masterpiece destined to become a feature landmark building.

Running 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.