Motor yachts in Dubai

[DoubleEnder]

I'm in Dubai for a few days and staying in the Marina area. I have a sailing boat in U.K. and am no expert on motor boats but it is interesting here how lots, maybe most, of the motor boats that in Europe would be privately owned with some private chartering are used very differently here. Lots of boats approx 40-60 feet (I am guessing) go out as what I'd call trip boats with big parties of guests all wearing life jackets, for a short spin round the metaphorical lighthouse

There are plenty of purpose built party boats and RIBs for speed blasts. Also water taxis and other purpose built craft. But it's interesting to see the equivalent of a Princess 40something being used in this way. Lots of them locally built I think.

Sadly I will leave before the Dubai boat show. Maybe not too sad though.
Graham

 

[Dictys]

I'm in Dubai for a few days and staying in the Marina area. I have a sailing boat in U.K. and am no expert on motor boats but it is interesting here how lots, maybe most, of the motor boats that in Europe would be privately owned with some private chartering are used very differently here. Lots of boats approx 40-60 feet (I am guessing) go out as what I'd call trip boats with big parties of guests all wearing life jackets, for a short spin round the metaphorical lighthouse

There are plenty of purpose built party boats and RIBs for speed blasts. Also water taxis and other purpose built craft. But it's interesting to see the equivalent of a Princess 40something being used in this way. Lots of them locally built I think.

Sadly I will leave before the Dubai boat show. Maybe not too sad though.
Graham

You are correct, I lived in Dubai for 4 year and visited the boat show many times and unless you wanted a 90ft plus motor yacht very disappointing. 90% of boats are party pads.

The fact of the matter is that the coastline is pretty dull and you cannot leave the marina without permission from the coastguard. If it is at all windy, which is quite common you aren't allowed to leave plus Every boat has a compulsory AIS system added by the authorities so that track you and fine you if you break any rules intentionally or otherwise.

 

[superheat6k]

... If it is at all windy, which is quite common you aren't allowed to leave plus Every boat has a compulsory AIS system added by the authorities so that track you and fine you if you break any rules intentionally or otherwise.

Ughh ! What's the point of trying to boat there ?

 

[DoubleEnder]

It is a funny place in all sorts of ways. I'm sure it isn't a great location to own or use a pleasure boat of any sort: dull coast, very highly regulated, climate can be a harsh .... But you know in other ways you have to say chapeau to the rulers. They've turned a very unpromising bit of real estate in to something that has a bit of economic life to it, and parlayed some oil money into an interesting new economic, social and architectural construct. Other places with more oil, more money and more promising starting points have done a lot less. So you kind of have to respect Dubai

 

[simonfraser]

guess you can go 'offshore' and party

 

[Eren]

guess you can go 'offshore' and party

Of course!!! That is the main reason why people go out with boats. It is far from all the control on the land. Still you can not get crazy out there, but much more free than the land anyway.