An Emirati-made “water car” and “hybrid” yachts at the “Dubai Used Boats”

The activities of the “Dubai Used Boats 2025” exhibition, which began its activities the day before yesterday evening, and ends today (Sunday) at the Dubai Creek Marina, witnessed products for boats and yachts presented for the first time, including an Emirati-made water car, and hybrid green yachts that operate with electricity and solar panels with diesel.

Emirates Today monitored the launch of luxury yachts manufactured from international products at a price of up to 30 million dirhams, and boats at prices starting from 60 thousand dirhams.

The exhibition was launched under the slogan “A Boat for Every Person,” with the participation of more than 50 brands from around the world displaying more than 50 yachts and boats, with a total value exceeding 200 million dirhams, reflecting Dubai’s position as a major platform for innovation in the world of recreational navigation, and a leading center for used boat trade in the region. This year, the event is expected to attract more than 5,000 visitors.

In detail, Abdullah Ali Al Noon, director of special projects at Dubai Golf and official of Via Marine, which organizes the used boat exhibition in Dubai, said, “The 11th session of the exhibition witnessed boat and yacht products launched for the first time on its platforms, the most prominent of which are hybrid green yachts that operate on electricity, diesel, and solar panels.”

He added, “Dubai’s markets are witnessing a gradual growth and shift in demand for this type of green yachts, whether hybrid or powered by electricity and solar energy, in a way that keeps pace with the qualitative shift towards environmentally friendly green products, which in turn also provides innovative modern technologies and an abundance of traditional fuel.”

Al-Noun pointed out that “the exhibition also witnessed for the first time various innovations in the used boats and yachts sector, most notably water cars, which include boats that operate in the shape and form of various car models and are made by Emirati manufacture.”

He explained that Dubai has become a regional center in the trade of used yachts and boats, with the support of several factors, most notably the abundance of marinas that provide parking for these yachts, the development of infrastructure, and the facilities for using and licensing these yachts, with the availability of many private parking lots in residential complexes close to bodies of water, pointing out that “the markets for used yachts in Dubai are witnessing an annual growth estimated at about 17%.”

He explained that the shares of local manufacturing of used boats and yachts in Dubai amount to about 20% of the total products traded, with Dubai being a destination for international companies that offer boat and yacht products of various categories, in addition to the growth of the local industry.

He pointed out that the UAE in general accounts for about 50% of the total marinas for yachts in the Middle East region, pointing out that Dubai has 22 marinas that include more than 4,190 yacht parking spaces.

For his part, the Executive Director of OZ Marine, Izzat Ozturkman, said that “his company presented water cars manufactured in the Emirates markets, during the exhibition, with different specifications and are operated as fast yachts in the shapes of cars with various shapes and colors,” pointing out that “water cars are currently exported from the Emirates to various global markets.”

He explained, “The prices of water cars start at 60,000 dirhams for used brands, while the prices of new ones range between about 100 and 200 thousand dirhams, depending on the specifications and speeds.”

The organization of the exhibition comes in light of the high growth indicators achieved by the Emirate of Dubai in the maritime sector, as the number of marine vessels registered during the year 2024, according to reports issued by the Dubai Maritime Authority at the Ports, Customs and Free Zone Corporation, reached about 7,738 marine vessels, an increase of 14.4% compared to 2023, while the number of marine crew members reached 12,226 thousand, with a growth rate of 22.8%, which embodies the confidence of investors and operators in the advanced marine environment in The emirate, and reflects Dubai’s position as a leading global center for maritime innovation and sustainability.