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Lavish yachts, powerful jet skis and luxury cars were among the many attractions that drew thousands of visitors to the fourth annual Bahrain Boat Show International over the weekend.
The event, which took place at Amwaj Islands’ marina, was organised by Knotika Boat Shows, in co-operation with Amwaj Marina, Tamkeen and Bahrain’s Economic Development Board. It included stands for water sport equipment, beach wear, marinas, charter waterfronts and marine services.
It wasn’t just the boats and cars that kept the crowds entertained; there was also a food court, live music and dance performances.
More than 100 exhibitors showcased their goods and services at the event, with many of them being from Bahrain.
Jamal Khalfan, 52, from Muharraq, of Al Darwazi Antiques, was one such exhibitor who used the event to display some of his impressive handcrafted dhows and benches.
“I’ve been making dhows for 40 years and the skill was passed down from my grandfather. I guess you could say it’s in my blood to create these works.
The dhows, each one unique, range from models to full-sized crafts and can cost between BD150–BD5,000.
“I’ve had buyers from across the Gulf and Europe, in fact I find Europeans are often more interested because it’s something new to them,” he added.
Another exhibitor at the show was Systems & Technology Enterprises. The company specialises in design, construction, installation of marine floating dock systems, boat lifts, personal water craft, navigation buoys and aids and marine accessories.
The company’s business development manager Nick Kennedy said: “We are really happy to show off our wide range of products and the boat show is an ideal platform for us.”
One of the most interesting products on display was an inflatable waterslide, priced at BD1,850, which Mr Kennedy hopes will be popular with resorts across the island.
“They’re great fun for all ages and there’s even a water trampoline if you’re feeling more adventurous.”
It wasn’t just companies displaying their best; Bahrain’s diligent Coastguard was also keen to promote its role in the kingdom.
The role of the Coastguard is to regulate behaviour at sea as well as perform search and rescue missions for boats in distress, much like the combined role of the police and ambulance services on land. Their responsibility stretches from military vessels to smaller leisure boats.
Captain Abdulla Al Merbati was on hand to talk to visitors about the Coastguard’s role in keeping the kingdom’s shores safe and secure and also gave tours of some of the boats.
He said: “This is our second year participating at the boat show and it’s an ideal opportunity for us to tell the public about what we do.
“We displayed three of our most commonly used assets, produced from manufacturers around the world including here in Bahrain and the response from the public has been great.
“We want people, especially tourists visiting Bahrain, to know they’re safe in the water because the Coastguard and Bahrain Royal Navy are always on hand.”
Among the VIP visitors was Bahrain International Circuit CEO Shaikh Salman bin Isa Al Khalifa.
He said: “I think the organisers have put on quite a show, giving the exhibitors the opportunity to display their products.
“The Bahrain Boat Show International is a great opportunity to showcase boats, which are obviously the crown jewels of this event, but there are various things to look at too.
“I hope that next year the organisers can build on this year’s success, learn from it and make it even bigger and better.”
The event was a flurry of activity and provided plenty of family entertainment, which went down well with Fadi Al Ahmad and his family who were visiting from Saudi Arabia.
Mr Al Ahmad, 37, a survey inspector from Dhahran, said: “We came here for the weekend and by chance heard about the boat show so we decided to come down and check it out.
“Since I work offshore, I really like boats and some of the models on display are very impressive and luxurious.
“My family has had a lovely time here and were impressed with all the entertainment.”
Tamkeen revealed it supported 32 enterprises through its Tarweej scheme to participate in the show. The number of participants and the amount of support provided increased from last year’s show, where it provided support for 28 exhibitors.
