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The 26th Dubai International Boat Show (DIBS) was officially opened today by H.H. Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, President of Dubai Civil Aviation Authority, in a new location with the infrastructure fully operational and completed in record time. DIBS has relocated this year to a temporary site on the Dubai Canal in Jumeirah, moving from its original Dubai International Marine Club site, the show’s home since 2005.
The new location is closer to the city and business centre at the mouth of the Dubai Canal and the sea, which posed a considerable challenge with no existing infrastructure in place. The move at short notice required the show’s owners, the Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC), to act quickly to find an alternate venue and complete the site, which they did in just six weeks.
This required the building of a temporary 100 berth marina to host the exhibitors with on-water yachts, which have completely filled the available berths. “The new venue is able to accommodate 15% more boats and yachts than in previous years and we have better car park space and access to the show via the Dubai Canal using ferry services,” says Trixie LohMirmand, DWTC’s senior vice president for events.
