The Emirates Boat Show International will be launched in Abu Dhabi on Nov. 25-29, 2008. Under the patronage of Dr. Sheikh Sultan Bin Khalifa Al-Nahyan, member of the Executive Council, the inaugural Emirates Boat Show International will showcase Abu Dhabi as an emerging leisure marine power house in the GCC reflecting the enormous amount of marine related development and infrastructure currently planned and under construction as well as the love and passion of the people for boating. This event is organized with close collaboration between the ADMISC and Knotika Boat Shows who has the expertise in this domain on international level in coordination with Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority and Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Center (ADNEC). Underlining the reasons for selecting Abu Dhabi as the venue, Saeed Hareb, chairman of Knotika Holding, said “Abu Dhabi is an obvious choice for a boat show as it is the richest of the United Arab Emirates, has a large expatriate population and is aiming to transform itself into a global tourist destination.” Knotika Holding, is a market leader in the regional leisure marine industry and organizer of prominent boat shows in Kuwait and Bahrain. Hareb noted that Abu Dhabi benefits from a cosmopolitan outlook in a politically stable country with a liberal economy. “Diverse sports & leisure pursuits are part of the active lifestyle residents enjoy in Abu Dhabi and the most recently announced 2009 Formula 1™ Abu Dhabi Prix, Ferrari Theme Park and Warner Brothers Theme Park are all situated on the Yas Island, a 2,500 hectare Island development,” he added. Forbes magazine recently reported Abu Dhabi as the world's richest city. Responsible for more than 90 percent of the UAE's oil production, Abu Dhabi possesses the fourth largest oil reserves in the world. According to media reports, Abu Dhabi has an investment fund exceeding $800 billion with more than $140 billion in government and privately-funded development projects currently underway in Abu Dhabi. The Abu Dhabi event will attract more than 150 exhibitors and 200 boats will be on display in the water and onshore at the Abu Dhabi International Marine Sports Club (ADIMSC). Visitors will see a range of the latest leisure marine products, from multi-million dollar motor yachts to jet skis, wakeboarding boats and equipment, sailing dinghies and diving gear, marine accessories and electronics. The show will be open to both the trade and the public. Demonstrating their confidence in the Abu Dhabi marine market and Knotika's ability to organize a world class boat show, Emirates Boat Show International has secured bookings from some of the best known brands such as - Aicon, Azimuth, Bayliner, Beneteau Yachts, Cabo, Carver, Doral, Elegance, Four Winns, Gulf Craft, Hatteras, Jeanneau, Larson, Mastercraft, Maxum, Palm Marine, Princess Yachts, SeaRay, Silver Craft, Tige, Wellcraft. Knotika Holding has gained a unique position of confidence within the marine community in the region as a solution provider for the needs of boat owners and the industry. “We have received overwhelming support from Abu Dhabi as the host and from the marine industry in particular with regard to the timing of the show,” said Wael Juju, CEO of Knotika Holding. “With the Emirates Boat Show International in Abu Dhabi, we will be well on the way to providing the luxury marine industry in the Middle East with a year-round calendar of events that marine enthusiasts could look forward to,” he added. “For us at Knotika, Boat Shows are not just about boats, but also everything that goes with the marine lifestyle,” Juju further said. “People do not buy a boat just to own it; they want to enjoy it; to live the culture and that is what we are bringing to Abu Dhabi. This is not simply a boat show, it is a marine lifestyle exhibition where they will be able to see and buy the latest, coolest and must-have yachts and marine products.” __
