Alongside the convenience of all year-round pleasant weather, the increase of vessels visiting The Middle East can be attributed to a number of factors – the investment in infrastructure, improved number of facilities, domestic manufacturing, and the modernization of regulations. While the aforementioned are essential components to any superyacht destination, what may have truly contributed to creating appeal and having the region stand out are the influx of events – chiefly, high profile sporting tournaments and championships.
Today, The Middle East offers a wide fleet of sporting events that have become intertwined with the boating calendar, including The 2022 FIFA World Cup, and the annual Dubai SailGP. However, it was the introduction of the F1 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix that first attracted and continues to draw a respectable superyacht crowd, bringing owners into The Middle East.
The event debuted in 2009 and has since become a metonym for its home in Yas Island. The Grand Prix takes place at Yas Marina Circuit. and aside from Monaco, Abu Dhabi’s version of the racing competition is the only one to boast trackside berths; with a marina that accommodates superyachts up to 175 meters in length. Alongside a reported 30 vessels above 24 meters docked at Yas Marina to catch the racing action, according to Marine Traffic, 50,000 spectators were in attendance for the 2024 edition, taking place on December 6-8.
Although it is not necessarily a yachting event, The Grand Prix was responsible for attracting an assemblage of superyachts, inspiring movement in the region. Today, major sporting competitions hosted in the region have become commonplace, but Abu Dhabi’s Grand Prix illustrated the importance of marinas offering activities and experiences to keep their members engaged and develop into yachting hubs.
That same year as the first F1 Grand Prix, Abu Dhabi made developments on the regulatory front when it introduced long-term navigational licenses for foreign-flagged vessels.
Abu Dhabi Boat Show
Abu Dhabi continues to prove itself as an innovative home for the leisure marine industry. In November, the Gulf State held its annual Abu Dhabi International Boat Show, where the 2024 iteration broke attendance records when it attracted 43,732 visitors, a 25% increase from the year prior. The number of exhibitors at the show totaled 813 exhibitors and saw a showcase of shipyards such as Gulf Craft, Sunreef, and Sanlorenzo.
Today, Dubai and Saudi Arabia are seen as developed superyachting hubs , it is arguably Abu Dhabi that is responsible for putting The Middle East’s nautical offerings on the map when the Abu Dhabi Formula One Grand Prix first took place, establishing an appeal for the superyacht owners from all over the globe to traverse the Arabian Gulf. Moreover, hosting events such as the Grand Prix spoke to the value that marinas provide, particularly as a new generation of Ultra High Networth Individuals (UHWNIs) are leading the way as a new generation of superyacht owners, who hold different values than their predecessors.