It was my first time to come to such an event, and it will definitely not be the last
Saif Almehairbi, Mubadala The Gulf Superyacht Forum launched in collaboration with the Abu Dhabi Yacht Show on Thursday 12th March. The new addition to the superyacht events calendar proved to be a great success – with all delegates places sold out. There was a diverse mixture of regional and international industry players in attendance sparking great debate and discussion. The conference opened addressing the business potential of this new and rapidly developing region – the panel focused on the advantages of the Gulf as a super and giga yacht cruising ground in comparison to more familiar territories such as the Mediterranean and Carribbean. Michael Horrigan, CEO of IGY, outlined the extent of the development by the numerous marina projects planned, purposely built to cater for the ever-growing superyacht industry. Other panelists included Saif Altenaiji, from the new shipyard Abu Dhabi MAR, Karl Morten Wilkund and Kostas Antonopoulos-Rothschild, Platinum Yachts, who gave a regional perspective and positive outlook for the future of yacht building and cruising in the Gulf. A less optimistic opinion came from Wim Koersvelt, Managing Director of ICON Yachts in Holland who suggested the region was still far from competing with its European counterparts. The conference resumed after lunch with the second session focusing on the operational and logistical problems that large yachts face in the Gulf. The debate was heated, with six local captains giving frank and honest opinions on the yachting restrictions they face in the Gulf region. Discussion from the floor questioned the flag and regulation problem that foreign flagged vessels face when wishing to charter and cruise in the United Arab Emirates. Legal experts, Michael Day and Fred Carr were sympathetic to the issues, and focused on the solutions, which will hopefully come in the form of new UAE legislation. The afternoon provided delegates with a chance to visit the Abu Dhabi Yacht Show, which earlier in the day was opened by His Highness Sheikh Sultan Bin Tahnoon Al Nayyan, Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority. Followed by a spectacular Cocktail reception dockside. Live music, a great atmosphere and party overlooking the 20 super and giga yachts rounded off a fantastic day to this new event. Superyacht events would like to thank IGY for their sponsorship. | Official Conference Partner of
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Thursday 12 March
09.30 - 10.30 Registration and Light Breakfast
10.30 - 12.30 The Large Yacht Industry and the Business Potential in the Gulf
This two hour session will provide delegates with the opportunity to hear expert advice, first hand knowledge and current intelligence on the way to nurture and develop business opportunities in the Gulf region. The panel will include local business figureheads, executives from companies that have made good progress with clients in the region and consultants and advisors who have direct experience of working with the key players and influencers from the United Arab Emirates, Qatari, Saudi Arabia and other key Gulf regions.
Saif Altenaiji - Engineer/Administrator, Abu Dhabi MAR
Karl Morten Wiklund - Business Director of Passenger Ships, Det Norske Veritas
Michael Horrigan - CEO, IGY Middle East, Europe & Asia
Kostas Antonopoulos - Managing Director, Platinum Yachts
Wim Koersvelt - Managing Director, ICON Yachts
12.30 - 14.00 Session Break and Light Lunch
The lunch break will give delegates the opportunity to ask questions and continue networking with those key to the superyacht industry.
14.00 - 16.00 The Operational and Logistical Issues Large Yacht’s face in the Gulf
The afternoon session will provide an opportunity for the delegates to discuss and debate the key issues the Gulf region faces in terms of support, operations, security, service and support for the potential fleet of large yachts that will potentially make the Gulf their port of call, or a transit location en-route to the Indian Ocean and Asian cruising grounds. The panellists will include experienced Captains, Port managers, Security Experts, Marina developers and Agents that understand the operational requirements of large yachts. The objective of this two hour debate is to raise awareness of the problems that have been encountered in the past and propose solutions to the key issues faced.
Michael Horrigan - CEO, IGY Middle East, Europe & Asia
Matthew Bate - Director of Operations, IGY Middle East & Asia
Alex Drinkwater - General Manager, Al Seer Marine
Michael Day - Solicitor, Trowers & Hamlins LLP
Fred Carr - Project Director, Aldar Marinas
16.00 Afternoon Tea and Further Networking. Conference Closes
16.00 - 19.00 Chance for delegates to visit the Abu Dhabi Yacht Show* only a stones throw from the conference room.
19.00 Abu Dhabi Yacht Show Cocktail Party. Quayside.
Abu Dhabi Yacht Show Opening Times
Thursday 12 March 10.00 - 19.00
Friday 13 March 12.00 - 18.00
Saturday 15 March 10.00 - 19.00
*This does not include the Gala Dinner on Friday 13 March
Abu Dhabi airport is situated on the mainland
35km east of the city and approximately 25 minutes drive from the Abu
Dhabi National Exhibition centre
Taxis are available both from outside the exhibition centre and the airport, or can be pre booked
Al Ghaza Taxi +971 (0)2 4447 787
Travelling from Dubai is very simple and should take no more than 45 minutes  
| SURNAME |
FIRSTNAME |
COMPANY |
| Redmayne |
Martin H |
Chairman - Editor in Chief, The Yacht Report Group |
| Antonopoulos - Rothschild |
Kostas |
Managing Director, Platinum Yachts |
| Bate |
Matthew |
Director of Operations, IGY Middle East & Asia |
| Carr |
Fred |
Legal Director, Aldar Marinas |
| Day |
Michael |
Solicitor, Trowers & Hamlins LLP |
| Drinkwater |
Alexander |
General Manager, Al Seer Marine |
| Horrigan |
Michael |
CEO, IGY Middle East, Europe & Asia |
| Koersvelt |
Wim |
Managing Director, ICON Yachts |
| Wiklund |
Karl Morten |
Business Director of Passenger Ships, Det Norske Veritas |
24 Mar 2009 - Review : Gulf Superyacht Forum 2009 -
The Yacht Report
Group recently hosted a brand new conference in partnership with the
Abu Dhabi Yacht Show, the Gulf Superyacht Forum. The event opened
alongside the show and brought together a gathering of industry
professionals from the world over, coupled with a small group of local
players. The meeting provided a snap shot view of the current state of
the Gulf, but more importantly mapped their future and attempted to
predict the true potential of the region in yachting terms. This became
very clear when a variety of panelists identified the pros and cons of
building and developing yachts and yacht owners in the highly oil rich
Emirate.
  “ An excellent starting platform to integrate companies into this marketplace.” Scott MacDonald, IMA Yachts
In very simple terms, the contention amongst the panel and the
audience focused on the whether local builders have the ability to meet
the quality demands of the client base. The argument proposed by the
Gulf based shipyards was that with such a vast workforce available and
experience in a vast array of building projects, alongside the training
and management of the unlimited work force who earn a fraction of a
Dutch or German worker, it will deliver results. Only time will tell.
We
plan to watch carefully the various new players in the Gulf, namely,
Abu Dhabi Mar and Platinum Yachts, and with skilled labour being one of
the major costs in a new build and with the variety of western
subcontractors already working within the Gulf, it’s clear that they
plan to not only be competitive but increase their quality and
standards as they evolve over the coming years with their evolutionary
projects. With thousands of new berths and facilities being developed
within the Gulf, coupled with the myriad of small islands off the coast
of Abu Dhabi, the local interest in creating a destination for their
own cruising needs, coupled with their plans to attract visiting yachts
is high. New legal frameworks and cruising regulations are currently in
development and discussion, all of which are geared to make the
operational aspects of yachts more simplistic and conducive to
developing a domestic fleet.
Superyacht events would like to
thank their sponsors IGY and The Abu Dhabi Yacht Show.
Visit the gallery to see all the pictures from the Gulf Superyacht Forum
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 03 Mar 2009 - Gulf Superyacht Forum 2009 1 week to go
In little over a week's time the inaugural Gulf Superyacht Forum (GUSF) will be taking place in Abu Dhabi. As official conference partner to The Abu Dhabi Yacht Show, the Forum will address important issues surrounding the regions expanding maritime infrastructure, whilst running alongside the new luxury Yacht show - which is based in a brand new marina facility. Comprising only one day, the Forum is designed to provide delegates with an understanding of the Gulf region, its clients, culture and rapidly developing superyacht market.
Organised by The Yacht Report Group and Superyacht Events, the latest speakers for the Forum will include: Wim Koersvelt (Managing Director of Icon Yachts), Fred Carr (Project Director of Aldar Marinas) and Kostas Antonopoulos (Managing Director of Platinum Yachts). For the full list of speakers and seminar programme please click here. All delegates who sign up to the Forum will get access to the Abu Dhabi Yacht Show. The show itself will be attended by members of the world's superyacht fleet, with the organisers recently announcing the patronage of his Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Al Nahran, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces. For anyone wishing to take up the limited remaining spaces avaliable, and attend this first class opportunity to hear expert views on this burgeoning region of the superyacht market please click here.
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