The Kuwai T Yach T Show 2016

Last month saw the successful completion of the fourth annual Kuwait Yacht Show, which took place at the Marina Crescent, in Kuwait City, bringing together hundreds of yachting, boating and marine leisure brands. Hadag talks to co-founder Zeina Mokaddam about the history and success of the show…

Can you give us a brief overview of the history of the Kuwait Yacht Show?

The first edition of the Kuwait Yacht Show was held in 2013. It was a vision of two people, myself and Nouf Al Hajeri. We recognised the void in Kuwait’s marine sector, and we were determined to establish a national yacht show that would grow and endure over the years. The initial challenge was to convince potential exhibitors, sponsors and media of the value a yacht show would add to Kuwait, but once this was achieved, momentum grew rapidly.

How closely do you work with the Kuwait authorities for the event?

Very closely. It would be impossible to hold an event of this scale without doing so, but we quickly received generous offers of help and support from all areas within Kuwait.

Our first edition was opened not by one Minister of State, but jointly by five. Our second was held under the patronage of the Prime Minister. Without exception, all the government entities we’ve approached have been more than supportive.

For example, the Kuwait Customs Office were kind enough to allow all exhibiting yachts that travelled to Kuwait by sea to come straight to our venue where they set up a temporary office for clearance.

And the opening ceremony was a joint effort with the Kuwait Coast Guard, Kuwait Air Force and Maritime rescue mobilising all their resources to give KYS the beautiful backdrop of a 20m water fountain.

Can you tell us what the highlights were of this year’s event?

The headlines of this year were the 11 regional premieres, including three Azimuts, two Supremas and two De Antonio yachts, to name just a few.

We open the annual calendar of regional boat shows so, by having it in February, we have secured an exclusive position allowing us to feature and exhibit products for the first time in the region. It’s a key reason for the success of KYS for both exhibitors and the public alike.

How strong is the marine leisure industry in Kuwait?

Kuwaitis have long had a strong connection with the sea, and are natural seafarers. So, there are in excess of 15,000 registered leisure boats – one for every

44 Kuwaitis. This is a rate higher than in most developed countries. Such is the growth that marinas are full – there’s a pent-up demand for new berths. This is something the private sector is now reacting to, and additional spaces are being added, which soon fill up. It bodes well for the continued growth within this sector.

How important is the Kuwait Yacht Show to the marine leisure industry in Kuwait?

That’s a difficult question for us to answer – you’d be better to ask the marine leisure industry this one! What we can say, and say with confidence, is that we opened the first edition of KYS in response to a demand. Every year since then the industry has grown, as has the show. Are we important to the marine leisure industry? We’d like to think so.