Minister of Economy and Commerce HE Sheikh Ahmed bin Jassim bin Mohamed al-Thani and Essa al-Mannai at the opening of QIBS 2014 yesterday.
Mourjan Marina in the under-construction Lusail City is going to be the beehive of activity in the next four days for the stakeholders in the region’s luxury cruises, yachts and dhows industry as the 2nd Qatar International Boat Show (QIBS 2014) got under way yesterday.
A number of boat builders and suppliers of marine equipment and accessories have set up their stalls at the venue. The show brings together participants from Italy, France, the UK and the US besides a large number of boat enthusiasts from the region’s states.
The show was opened in the afternoon yesterday by Qatar Minister of Economy and Commerce HE Sheikh Ahmed bin Jassim bin Mohamed al-Thani.
The minister, accompanied by prominent Qatari luxury cruise builder and entrepreneur Essa al-Mannai and other local participants, made a tour of inspection, covering the entire marina area where more than 75 participating boats were berthed.
Al-Mannai, the founder of Al-Mannai Marine which designed and launched one of the luxury dhows berthed at the marina, made a brief introduction of the participating yachts to the minister and others at the expo.
Locally designed dhows, Al Asmakh and Alokar, are among several boats and yachts berthed at the marina.
Luxury boats of varying sizes and dimensions have arrived mainly from the Gulf states, inquiries found. This year’s exhibition sees a rise in the number of local participants.
Visitors could tour the marina during the four-day exhibition.
