Abu Dhabi holds out superyacht hub potential, says Monaco Sovereign

Prince Albert, Sovereign of the Mediterranean Principality of Monaco, was speaking as he toured the Abu Dhabi stand at the Monaco Yacht Show (MYS) at which the Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority (ADTA) was headline sponsor.

Prince Albert, patron of the Monaco Yacht Show, said:

"I admire the way Abu Dhabi is going about promoting itself within the superyacht community and believe it has great potential. I would like to visit the emirate next year to see first-hand the progress being made and to visit the Abu Dhabi Yacht Show which is a welcome addition to the superyacht industry."

Abu Dhabi's maiden venture into the upper echelons of global yachting comes as the emirate, which has a strong maritime heritage and is blessed with 700 kilometres of coastline and more than 200 islands, moves to build its own superyacht credentials ahead of next year's ADYS debut.

The ADTA's Ati Al Dhaheri explained:

"Response at Monaco to both Abu Dhabi's destination proposition and next year's Abu Dhabi Yacht Show was significant with exhibitors and visitors looking to sign on for the event."

The ADYS will be held from March 12-14, 2009 at Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC), one of the world's most modern show venues and its 2.4 kilometre marina. The marina, with a 250 metre quay wall for stern mooring and capable of berthing at least 20 superyachts of 25 metres or more in length, is being constructed in a channel adjacent to ADNEC. The marina zone is part of the final phase of ADNEC's $2.3bn Capital Centre business and residential micro-city development which will have restaurants, shops, entertainment facilities and low-rise, sea-view marina homes.

ADYS is being organised by the Informa Yacht Group (IYG), the leading global yacht exhibition organiser which is also behind the Monaco Yacht Show.