Bin Sulayem toured the Waterfront 2005 Dubai exhibition, which features exhibitors from nine countries throughout Europe and the Middle East spanning a range of coastal development related products and services from real estate, to dredging, yacht supply and marine engineering. Later he spoke of the huge investment potential of Dubai’s tourism industry.

“It is a very lucrative sector,” he said. “Dubai hotels have one of the world’s best occupancy levels. The reasons behind its success are the strategic vision of the Government and intensive marketing which has proved highly successful.

“These initiatives have attracted tourists from many destinations in such numbers that the hotel business here is no longer seasonal but an all-year-round concern.”

Waterfront 2005 Dubai, which continues until Tuesday night, has been organized by international publishers and event organizers Seatrade. The exhibition is open free-of-charge to trade visitors.

The event also features a probing conference investing the future of coastline development in the Middle East. It is the first dedicated business-to-business event outlining future opportunities in waterfront design, construction and planning.

The conference has attracted an international speaker panel from three continents who are addressing the latest issues impacting waterfront development, including investment risks, the challenges of land reclamation and dredging, environmental impact, water and land transportation links and infrastructure.

“Support for this first-time event has been encouraging and reflects the huge growth in coastal development throughout the Middle East,” said Chris Hayman, Managing Director, Seatrade. “The governments of the Middle East have already established themselves as world-beaters in this sector and it looks like we have only reached the tip of the iceberg.”
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