| DUBAI - Duboats, the leisure boat company
established in January 2003 by the Bin Zayed
Group, announced ambitious plans to expand
its presence through the Gulf region with
the establishment of new offices in Qatar,
Kuwait and Saudi Arabia. The announcement
was made at the Duboats stand in the Dubai
Boat Show 2004, which was held from March
17 to 20, 2004, at the Dubai International
Marine Club, Mina Seyahi. At the
Dubai Boat Show 2004, Duboats showcased
the Pershing 50 and Pershing 76, the Ferretti
590 and Ferretti 620, Lagoon Power Cat 43
from Lagoon, Power Antares 9.80 and Antares
13.80, as well as 2 Sailing yachts, the
First 27.7 and First 36.7, from Beneteau.
Duboats, which opened its office recently
in Qatar, has plans to open offices in Kuwait
and Saudi Arabia, in the next six months.
Duboats also plans to be more active in
the yacht charter market.
"In its first year of operations in
UAE's leisure boat market, Duboats has met
its objective of creating a niche for customised
world class yachts targeted at discerning
marine sports enthusiasts," said Shaikh
Khaled bin Zayed bin Saqr Al Nahyan, Chairman,
Duboats. "The winning of the overall
honours, as well as the first place, for
the President's Trophy in the Dubai-Muscat
passage Sailing Regatta, has further leveraged
our position as a company driven by a passion
to excel in our chosen sport. The time is
now right to unfold our expansion plans
for the Gulf region."
Duboats has a portfolio of sailing crafts
from Ferretti, Pershing, Lagoon and Beneteau.
After the launch of six new models from
the Beneteau range in Dubai, in January
2004, the company has recently added the
Bertram fishing boat range to its collection.
It has plans to launch another high-quality
craft from Ferretti in the near future.
The yacht that won the Dubai-Muscat Passage
Sailing Regatta, Duboats Racing, is a First
36.7 model from Beneteau.
Skippered by Shaikh Khaled, on his first
major ocean race, the craft showcased the
capabilities of the Duboats portfolio of
crafts in an international sporting event.
"Our expansion plans are aimed at the
dual objectives of bringing the best international
sailing boats to the region and to raise
the profile of marine sports among the Gulf
sailing community," added Shaikh Khaled.
"The sailors from the region have garnered
long years of experience and the in-depth
knowledge required to excel at sea. With
abundant talent, good sailing arenas and
high quality marine crafts available locally,
it is the right time for the region to host
international competitions."
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