The appeal, accessibility and affordability of boats in the little to mid-sized segment as compared to their larger equivalents are a key contributing consider maintaining the marine industry active, with local and international companies utilizing the Dubai International Watercraft Program as a platform to target a wide range of eager consumers during the five-day occasion.

Sultan Alshaali, Chief Executive Officer of Al Shaali Group stated: "Small to medium boats represent 20% of the market but they produce 80% of profits for the entire industry. If you think about it this way, one boat owner will require one solution; twenty boat owners will need twenty services and more. So this is in fact what's maintaining the industry alive."

Running from 3pm to 9:30 pm daily up until Saturday 4 March at the Dubai International Marine Club, a host of exhibitors are showcasing the latest products targeting the largest segment of the luxury boating market.

Included Alshaali: "We have actually constantly taken note of this diversity and never ever concentrated only on megayachts. The medium sized boats are faster to develop and turn around, and if you go to any marina, be it in Dubai or globally, you'll find that much less than 5% of the watercrafts are megayachts with the small and medium section being the lions share. Marinas recognise the value of this too, as it is a driving element for their business." With over 800 brand names and business represented from greater than 60 countries at the 25 th edition of the Dubai

International Watercraft Program, there is a riches of products on display screen to provide for a range of customers with different spending plans.

1 Sultan Alshaali, Chief Executive Officer, Alshaali Group

Showcasing the Sport 348, the 43 Flybridge and the 49 Flybridge, a first for the Middle East, Princess Yachts have pinpointed the Dubai International Boat Program as a key event to target customers of tiny to mid-sized vessels, comprising the mass of their sales.

Salim Tayssoun, Managing Partner for Princess Yachts claimed: "As a foreign producer at the Dubai International Boat Show, the small to tool sized watercrafts are our ideal selling products. The majority of our clients are deportees who are trying to find the most effective top quality and technological attributes, and we constantly focus on bringing our latest products here."

Along with 19 superyachts at the event, there are over 450 boats tied in the marina on display screen at the venue, and they showcase products that will attract customers with a selection of variety of interests.

Ahmad Al-Ameeri, General Manager for Seas and Desert Group, distributor of Azimut Yachts said: "With every one of our customers, we've seen that they use their vessels 360 levels, for fishing, diving and travelling. For the smaller range of private yachts we see that owners intend to own and look after the watercraft themselves, and not include any team. This is particularly the situation with vessels approximately 50 feet."

Among the manufacturers and suppliers of vessels present at the show, Axopar Boats, Boston Whaler, Chapparal, Mastercraft and Wajer Boates are all showcasing the latest layouts of small to mid-sized boats.

Running until Saturday 4 March at Dubai International Marine Club (DIMC), the five-day event is drawing in visitors and professionals interested in all markets of the maritime industry, is open to trade site visitors and the public from 3pm - 9.30 pm daily from Feb 28 to March 4, 2017. Tickets are readily available at the gates for AED 60.