From left: George Kapoulas, Show Director for Qatar International Boat Show; Faysal Mikati, Vice-President of Snow Communications; Belal Al Kadry, Executive Assistant Manager and Director of Room Operations at Ritz-Carlton Doha; Abdulaziz Al Zeyara, Senior Manager of Strategic Planning at Lusail City; Sheikh Hassan bin Jabor Al Thani, President of Qatar Marine Sports Federation; Salem Al Kubaisi, Chief Corporate Services Officer at Katara Hospitality; Wayne Shepherd, General Manager of Mourjan Marinas; Nader Salameh, Marketing Manager of Ali Bin Ali Luxury and Fashion, and Elie Hanna, General Manager of AIG at a press conference at Ritz-Carlton Hotel yesterday. (Shaival Dalal)
DOHA: Plans are afoot for the creation of a marine association in Qatar which will be discussed at the very first Qatar International Boat Show (QIBS) to be held at Lusail Marina from November 12 to 16.
Sheikh Hassan bin Jabor Al Thani, President of the Qatar Marine Sports Federation (QMSF), announced the upcoming initiative at a press conference yesterday at the Ritz-Carlton Doha.
“We have social responsibility, in which the creation of the marine association is a vital component. We will set all the rules and procedures and hopefully come up with the association after the show,” he said.
A roundtable meeting of maritime stakeholders and government officials will be held during the show, at which the Qatar Marine Association formation will be discussed.
The timing is auspicious, Sheikh Hassan said, because one of the primary objectives of the QIBS is to establish a platform for the well-being of the maritime industry. Such an Association would promote awareness of the local market, create opportunities by identifying needs and attracting the right calibre of specialists, and achieve international recognition for all that Qatar has to offer in this field.
Some suggested ideas for what the association would be responsible is creating policies and standards according to the International Maritime Organisation (IMO). Further it can become a member of AMIA Arab Marine Industries Association; be a focal point for the International Council of Marine Industry Associations (ICOMIA) and its members; and be a focal point for the International Federation of Boat Show Organisers (IFBSO) and its members. Other areas in which such an Association could play an active role would be in promoting tourism, encouraging environmental concerns and educating of all things maritime, under the guidance of the Ministry, he added.
For its debut on the international boating show circuit, QIBS has attracted the top names in the maritime industry from around the world.
Sixteen international shipyards have already confirmed their attendance including top names such as The Ferretti Group, Sunseeker International, Princess Yachts International, Azimut Yachts, Sea Ray, Sanlorenzo, Benetti, Overmarine, FIPA Group, Sunreef Yachts Bilgin Shipyard, Kaiserwerft and Cranchi Group.
Qatar will be represented by four boat building companies – Al Wakra, Al Udeid, Halul and Milaha – all of which manufacture highly cost-effective fibre-glass boats. Exhibitors from the UAE include Gulf Craft, Emirates Boats, Al Shaali, Dubai Marine and Sawamy; and from Bahrain, Al Dhaen. In addition, Performance Marine of Qatar will be showcasing Cigarette Racing Boats, Nortech Hi-Performance and Glasstream boats.
A total of 35 boats will be on display at QIBS, including the fastest composite Maxi Open Yacht ever to be built – Overmarine Group’s Mangusta 165 Maxi Open Yacht, which is 50 metres in length and has a top speed of 40 knots.
Faysal Mikati, Vice President of Snow Comms Conceptual Communications & Events, QIBS organisers, said: “Exhibitors know that the market in Qatar already has large numbers of potential buyers and by exhibiting at QIBS, the international shipyards have the chance to meet their existing customers in their own environment — whereas before they had to travel half way round the world to meet one another. As well as finding yachts, some visitors will be looking for fishing boats, while expatriates are predominantly in the market for fun boats.”
The Peninsula
