* Event set to take place from March 18-21 at The Pearl-Qatar’s Porto Arabia

The upcoming seventh edition of the Qatar International Boat Show (QIBS) will bring together and connect the world's most privileged yacht and boat manufacturers, service providers, local dealers, suppliers and potential buyers on an exclusive B2B and B2C platform to showcase the latest products and services in the marine industry and other luxury products.

The event is set to take place from March 18 to 21 at The Pearl-Qatar’s Porto Arabia.

Speaking at a press conference on Wednesday, Al Mannai Plus Events chairman Khaled Essa al-Mannai told reporters that the "one-of-its-kind event" has been consistently organised despite the various regional challenges, such as “the ongoing illegal blockade of Qatar”, which started in June 2017.

Al Mannai Plus Events is the organiser of the sole luxury yacht exhibition in Qatar.

Al-Mannai stressed that Qatar was able to sustain the exhibition, which has seen a significant increase in the number of participants every year.

According to him, QIBS witnessed a 58% increase in the number of participating companies from 35 in 2017 to 55 in 2019, expressing confidence that this year’s show would also see an addition of some luxury lifestyle products and the participation of more traders as well.

He thanked United Development Company (strategic partner), hosts The Pearl-Qatar, Hospitality Development Company and Ronautica Middle East for their valuable support and efforts to make Doha a hub in the region for luxury yachts and other luxury products.

Al-Mannai also thanked Milaha and Qatar Sotheby's International Realty for being valuable sponsors of the grand luxury and highly craftsmanship products event in the region.

He described QIBS as a premier luxury event in Qatar where marine enthusiasts and industrialists can discover the greatest aspects of the industry's products and services at Porto Arabia – an award-winning marina at The Pearl-Qatar.

Despite the current geopolitical challenges, al-Mannai said QIBS saw rapid growth, which highlighted the country’s economic strength and resilience under the wise leadership of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani.

Al-Mannai stressed that the show aims to preserve century's old relationship of the natives with the sea, which has been their source of livelihood before.

He underlined QIBS’ role in positioning Qatar as a regional hub for luxury, highly skilled craftsmanship and most modern boats and marine-related accessories.

According to the organisers, QIBS, which provides a single shopping window to luxury lifestyle enthusiasts of the region, invites a "supreme group of yacht and boat owners, managers, brokers and other top-level advisers, whose diverse experiences, unique insights and varying opinions deliver a broad range of perspectives on the ever-growing extreme-luxury arena".

The show's 2020 edition promises some of the world's most prestigious manufacturers and suppliers together with a cross-section of ultra-luxury advisers who drive hundreds of millions in luxury yachting and boating revenue annually and represent independent and affiliated agencies with premium yacht companies.

Al-Mannai said he encouraged regional luxury lifestyle products manufacturers and traders to take advantage of the annual event by promoting and showcasing their products and services.

Dr Loay Dalis, executive consultant of Al Mannai Plus Events, said they doubled the exhibition area from 6,000sqm in 2019 to 12,000sqm this year due to the high demand and expected increase of participants from the high-end lifestyle products sector.

Dr Dalis added that Milaha Qatar serves as the main sponsor of the event in this latest edition of QIBS while Vodafone Qatar is the telecom partner.

He also thanked prestigious magazines as partners of the show such as 'EuropenLife' and 'Azimautio' magazines.

Dr Dalis also thanked the management of UDC for hosting the 2020 QIBS at its flagship development, The Pearl-Qatar, particularly at Porto Arabia Marina gates 23-27, in collaboration with UDC's marina management subsidiary, Ronautica Middle East.



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