Dubai revolutionizes the seas: future in marine industry showcased

Technology took centre stage in Dubai, showcasing the best of the yachting industry’s innovations. This was what emerged at the end of the Dubai International Boat Show 2023 that took place at the Middle East’s largest super-yacht marina, where the latest products, designs and technological advances that are driving the entire industry forward were unveiled.

With over 1,000 brands showcasing the latest in marine excellence to over 30,000 ocean lovers and industry insiders, the show was the ideal platform to witness first-hand the integration of next-generation technologies and how they are being applied across the marine industry.

Many of these technological innovations were found at the show’s Equipment, Supplies and Services (ESS) exhibition, the largest marine equipment event in the Middle East. More than 200 brands representing 51 countries demonstrated the future of marine living in real-time, including Cummins Arabia, Cobham, Elcome, Finixa, Garmin, Seakeeper, Sontara and many more.

Cummins Arabia, a leading manufacturer of engines and generators, showcased its 45KW hydrogen fuel cell model, which can be used to generate clean power for stationary and mobile applications.

Although still at the prototype stage for use in the recreational yachting industry, once it reaches the market, Vivek Vincent, Engine Sales Manager for UAE, Cummins Arabia, said the latter would successfully reduce operating costs by reducing or removing the need for fossil fuels completely, which is also extremely beneficial for the environment.

The game-changing product attracted the attention of Dubai Boat Show visitors, with Vivek stating that this their second year exhibiting at the boat show was fantastic. After all, the presence of many visitors interested in sustainable technology was notable, but that’s not all: the event saw a significant demand for technological innovations dedicated to safety and improving the passenger experience.

Elcome, a provider of technology solutions for yachts and sports fishing boats, displayed its range of solutions for making operating boats safer, more entertaining, and more efficient. The company has become one of the first global partners for SpaceX, for its Starlink high-speed Internet service, which provides high-speed Internet with low latency anywhere in the world. Jimmy Grewal, Executive Director at Elcome, described Starlink as a “revolutionary service” and said that Elcome is very pleased with the response achieved at the show.

Dubai-based MPE presented a range of brands at the show that includes the latest colour management systems. Cromax uses a next-generation web- and cloud-based technology that helps body shops and boat refinishers improve productivity and achieve a perfect colour match quickly, reliably and efficiently.

Gulfam Mirza, Technical Manager for MPE praised his experiences at the show, adding “the response from our customers has been great and we have received some fantastic feedback.”

The Dubai International Boat Show was once again an important driving force for the entire industry, which benefited from the opportunity to test and evaluate the latest innovations and technological advances. With a growing demand for sustainable and efficient solutions in the marine industry, we can anticipate welcoming even more breakthroughs in future editions.