The 2024 Dubai International Boat Show (DIBS) will showcase superyachts from some of the world’s top yacht brands and bring together maritime investors, experts and enthusiasts in a festival, which this year focusses on marine life sustainability through innovative technology. The yachts will line up at the sophisticated Dubai Marina – the emirate’s first dedicated superyacht marina – from 28th February until 3rd March 2024.

The green agenda has been embraced by Sunreef who will bring a collection from its all-electric fleet. Their Founder and President, Francis Lapp said: “It is extremely important for us to push the electric transition forward. We want to promote a cleaner boating experience and the DIBS is a wonderful opportunity to do so. We want all the visitors to witness how luxury and sustainability can be combined.”

The show is set to welcome a new wave of investors and High Net Worth Individuals (HNWI) which aligns with the UAE’s drive to increase its resident fleet of superyachts. The country also demonstrates a commitment to a greener future, illustrated by the decision to host the COP28 Climate Change Conference there last year. Projects like the Dubai Reef – one of the largest reef developments in the world – contribute to ensuring the sustainability of the region’s rich maritime heritage and continued recognition as a responsible tourism destination.

Trixie LohMirmand, Executive Vice President, Events Management, at Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC), said:

“Dubai International Boat Show underlines this region’s passion for the maritime sector and Dubai’s ability to host events that bring the world together. Growing from humble beginnings in 1992 to the internationally renowned experience that DIBS will be again in 2024 demonstrates how the show has developed alongside the unstoppable evolution of Dubai.

“Moreover, UAE’s emphasis on sustainability including marine sustainability has drawn further interest globally, aligning with the country’s vision to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050 evidenced in the successful hosting of COP28.”

As well as the display of superyachts some of the show’s favourite attractions are back for this year: Supercar Avenue is a showcase of rare and exclusive cars while the Marine Art Gallery presents a distinctive collection of sea-inspired pieces crafted by internationally renowned artists.

The annual Middle East Yachting Conference (MEYC) will act as a curtain raiser for the show on 27th February, leading the conversation for yachting professionals and enthusiasts alike to delve into the maritime industry’s most pressing topics and unify the entire sector.

The Dubai International Boat Show runs from 28th February to 3rd March 2024.

Hargrave Yachts have announced the launch of 36.1m (118’4″ ) superyacht ROMEO FOXTROT II as the first F118 motor yacht. The yacht is the third Hargrave model commissioned by her new owner and features naval architecture by Jack Sarin Naval Architects and interiors from Yacht Interiors by Shelley.

“As the lead designer on this project my primary goal was to create a yacht with uncompromising amenities and luxurious comfort,” commented designer Shelley Dicondina. She continued, “The goal was to create a luxury vessel that has thoughtful gathering areas that are beyond comfortable, feels intimate for long conversations and relaxing and is easily accessible for crew to deliver discrete service.”

“…when it finally comes out of the building and heads for the water is a very exciting time and I think you’re all going to really like this yacht,” commented Michael Joyce, CEO of Hargrave Custom Yachts.

Luxury yacht ROMEO FOXTROT II offers accommodation for up to 10 guests across a five-stateroom layout, configured as a full-beam master suite, two queen staterooms and two twins. She can also carry seven crew across four cabins.

She can achieve a top speed of 21 knots and a cruising speed of 18 knots from her twin Caterpillar engines.

Her owners are busy planning their first adventure on board – a once-in-a-lifetime season cruising around the Mediterranean. When asked by Michael Joyce where he was headed this summer he had a short answer, “… everywhere!”

Fresh from a 2021 refit, 31.1m (102’1”) motor yacht OVAL is offering special discounts on charters in Greece including a fabulous 35% discount for May and October and a 10% discount for June. Up to ten guests can be accommodated in five luxury ensuite staterooms and will benefit from the attention of the six crew members.

She boasts sprawling exterior decks which include an expansive beach club, on-deck jacuzzi and plenty of al fresco entertainment space. The on-board collection of water toys – Seadoo jet skis, Sabobs, waterskis and more – will keep guests enthralled throughout the charter.

Her luxurious and opulent interior creates a sophisticated atmosphere with a formal dining setting sitting alongside a comfortable lounge area in the main salon and gorgeous warm and welcoming suites with fabulous marble finished ensuite bathrooms.

She is available for charter around Greece in both the summer and winter seasons.

The 2024 Superyacht Design Festival took place in Kutzbühel at the end of January where Boat International hosted the International Design and Innovation awards to celebrate the best superyacht designs in the world.

The ceremony included a presentation giving a closer look at 47m superyacht ARTEXPLORER – an innovative blend of superyacht and art gallery. Attendees and nominees came from the industry’s best-known designers, naval architects and shipyards with some of our favourite winners including:

Motor Yachts

Explorer yacht PINK SHADOW | 58m | Damen Yachting and Azure Yacht Design

Winner: Outstanding motor yacht exterior design 40-69
Damen Yachting’s SeaXplorer is an unconventional superyacht and earned its place at the top thanks to its statement looks, open beach club and versatile main deck aft – perfect for entertainment or vast tender and toy storage. Her dark green hull and matching superstructure maker her perfect for exploration and a great example of an SUV yacht.

Superyacht LEONA | 80m | Bilgin Yachts and Unique Yacht Design

Winner: Outstanding motor yacht exterior design 60m +
Superyacht LEONA narrowly won out against Amels ENTOURGE thanks to her bold red hull and elongated profile which play host to a stunning beach club and large owner’s deck. The judges deemed her memorable amongst other yachts which ‘played it safe’.

Superyacht ACE | 44m | Conrad Shipyard, Diana Yacht Design and M2atelier

Winner: Best motor yacht interior design 499GT and below
Superyacht ACE boast interior layouts you would expect on a larger yacht thanks to some simple design tricks including mirrored window mullions, fluid free standing furniture and simplicity rather than minimalist. Her look and feel centre around a few carefully chosen materials and textures, with light oak, marble, soft leather, light coloured fabric and dark metal blended together and bathed in natural light.

Superyacht ENTOURAGE | 60m | Amels, Damen Yachting and Burdifilek (interiors)

Winner: Best motor yacht interior design 500GT +
The interior design of superyacht ENTOURAGE is the first yacht project from the commercial space designer Burdifilek and unusual as a winner in this category as a series yacht. A showcase in the study of the yachts interior function, the design creates a tranquil and elegant space which needed to successfully host the owner art collection. The ergonomic shapes on display are both seaworthy and delicate with a blend of textures like stone, leather and glass in dusty tones of grey, blush and blue.  The atmosphere across the yacht evolves as she transforms from day to night – a feature which impressed the judges.

Sailing Yachts

Sailing yacht SARISSA | Royal Huisman | Malcolm McKeon Yacht Design | Liaigre (interiors)

The sailing yacht categories were dominated by sailing yacht SARISSA who swept the board, with wins for Outstanding Exterior Design, Best Interior Design, Best Naval Architecture and both the Innovation and Eco Award of the year. Her name means ‘long sharp spear’ in Greek, and it is easy to see this inspiration throughout the design.

Her naval architecture was judged to be the best all-round for sailing ability, range, comfort and stability. The design perfectly reflects the brief from the experienced owners who wanted a modern-looking yacht with easy water access, comfort, shade, infinite water views and a Jacuzzi. Performance, environmental impact and fun were of the utmost importance and from bow to stern, no details have been overlooked. Her multi-faceted approach to eco-friendliness includes wind-driven propulsion and hydrogenators plus innovative waste heat recovery, grey water treatment and general waste management.

The interior makes great use of the space and is a relaxed, homely environment perfect for family vacations. Custom furniture was created so as not to obscure the views, and the simple colour palette is warm and welcoming and features light oak, white lacquer and accenting leather. The thoughtful layout sees all the cabins offering a unique feel with the owner’s suite leading to a private beach club.

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This year’s winners reflect a new era of innovative and imaginative yacht design where environmental impact sits front and centre with style and function. We look forward to seeing some of these award wining yachts on the charter market but in the meantime, if you have been inspired by this collection, get in contact with us now for a personalised list of charter yachts available in your chosen location.

The first unit in the Tankoa T450 series, 45m (148’) luxury yacht GO has been launched after its sale in late 2021. She has been customised for her US owner with exterior and interior design from Giorgio M Casetta. Built in steel and aluminium the project introduces bold vertical elements and sleek horizontal lines while maintaining the brand’s timeless aesthetics.

The T450 is Tankoa’s first model under 50m and expands the shipyard’s range of luxury yachts to include more compact vessels. The shipyard is committed to quality and comfort and the T450 reaffirms their reputation for innovation coupled with elegance.

The owner requested the gross tonnage be increased from the original 430GT spec to 450GT with the intention of providing more interior volume.

“The all new Tankoa T450 M/Y Go is a great addition to the Tankoa core fleet of superyachts, and it is an incredibly flexible platform on which we can create semi-custom yachts, offering big volumes without compromising on the sleek and elegant lines,” says Claudio Corvino, sales & business development manager for the Americas and Asia-Pacific. “This first unit is a statement of what Tankoa can offer even at this size, and the final result was made possible by great teamwork between the shipyard, the young and enthusiastic client, and Giorgio M. Cassetta’s studio.”

Motor yacht GO includes a huge master stateroom forward on the main deck and five additional guest suites on the lower deck creating accommodation for up to 12 guests. The guests will be treated to a fabulous beach area at the stern with fold-out side panels and a pool which can be covered with a retractable sun pad. The stunning sun deck features a hydromassage pool and shaded dining setting while the upper deck is fitted with a dedicated gym and a bow firepit.

Luxury yacht GO will be delivered in the spring and make her international debut at the autumn boat shows while the shipyard has a second T450 sold and under construction, plus a brand new TX450.

We look forward to brining you more details about her exterior and interior details, but in the meantime take a look at some of the Tankoa superyachts currently available for charter.

Fresh from her successful sea trials in the North Sea, 55m (180’5”) luxury yacht IRIS BLUE from Heesen has now been delivered to her new owners. Her exterior was designed by Omega Architects with interiors by Luca Dini Design & Architecture.

The trials lasted for three days, and she met all the required specifications in challenging conditions with waves of up to 1.7m and winds gusting up to 28 knots. She proved highly responsive, instilling great confidence in her manoeuvrability and robustness.

Frank Laupman of Omega Architects, the designer of the original series, carried out the restyle for this hull and had this to say. “As much as we love our original design with the vertical windows, we felt it was time to make an evolutionary step,” says Frank. “We opted for a larger expanse of floor-to-ceiling glass, without mullions in the main saloon. Then, we took the opportunity to give a slightly more aggressive look to the profile by using continuous sheets of tinted glass. The horizontal lines stretch the optical length and balance the air draft. The result is beautiful: we retained the family look and feel but gave it an elegant touch.”

The updated layout now offers a 78sqm owner’s stateroom with private terrace on the starboard side, a larger sundeck with a bar and spa plus a wide central atrium with main staircase and crew companionway.

Niels Vaessen, Heesen CEO, comments: “We have worked with Omega and Luca Dini on creating a yacht that meets the refined tastes of clients who appreciate Dutch quality with a shortened delivery time. IRIS BLUE is a wonderful addition to our fleet, and we wish the Owners and her crew many days of happy sailing”.

We echo the sentiment and wish her owner’s well on their travels.

Luxury yacht EMIR from Golden Yachts is the ultimate superyacht and is currently available for charter in many of the premium charter destinations around the world. At 82.50 m (270′ 8″) and with 14 staterooms accommodating 28 guests, she can host large groups for social or corporate charters.

EMIR is simply magnificent across every inch of her five deck levels and is one of the most stunning yachts on the charter market, packed with superior features in beautifully designed surroundings. She was originally built in 2004 and was refitted in 2022 to ensure guests will enjoy the best possible experience.

On deck highlights include a sunken deck jacuzzi surrounded by an arc of sun pad, a choice of dining and lounge settings and the opportunity to partake in a whole range of water sports. The crew can also set up beach days in any of the stunning anchorages you visit including dining, games and attentive service.

Once inside the luxury continues in the elegant salon where custom-built sofa seating can host guests for drinks before they enjoy dinner in the 32-seat dining room. Silver service is no problem for the highly trained crew and the on-board galley team will prepare gourmet cuisine to guests tastes.

The fourteen staterooms are stunning, and all accompanied by luxury ensuite bathroom facilities. The upper deck master boasts a huge interior with king-sized bed, library, office area, walk in wardrobe and yellow onyx marble bathroom including full bathtub. The VIP suites are across the bridge and upper deck and share the high standards seen in the master, while the double and twin suites are across the upper and main decks, and all have marble bathrooms with spa bathtubs.

Perfect for that once in a lifetime vacation or exclusive corporate event, superyacht EMIR can’t be beaten and is available for charter around the world.

Luxury yacht LIR will be sailing around the Western Mediterranean – Sardinia, Corsica, Sicily and Naples/Amalfi – in the summer season of 2024 and can be chartered with no deliver fees for June, July and early August.

At 20.44m (67’1”), catamaran LIR was specifically designed for private charters and has a great reputation on the charter market for her attentive crew and outstanding service. She can accommodate a maximum of eight guests in four deluxe ensuite cabins and offers a choice of wonderful sociable areas inside and out.

She boasts a cohesive décor across the exterior deck spaces and inviting interior which blends light wood panelling with soft turquoise upholstery and white surfaces. The open plan main salon has an integrated galley perfect for families or friends who enjoy sharing culinary experiences.

The guest suites are thoughtfully designed with loads of beautiful finishing touches like soft furnishings, books and accessories. There is a king-sized owner’s suite with lounge area and three queen double suites across both the port and starboard hulls – all with ensuite bathroom facilities.

The exterior can host guests for al fresco meals at a choice of dining settings and there are loads of sun pads across the decks allowing guests to spread out and make the most of the Mediterranean weather. She also carries a collection of water toys and dive equipment giving guests the opportunity to explore the surroundings on, in and under the water!

As the winter nights begin to shorten and thoughts turn to summer vacations, take a closer look at luxury catamaran LIR for your Mediterranean getaway this year and contact us for more details.

The sportfisher motor yacht PROJECT 406 from Royal Huisman is now in transit from the shipyard’s new build facility in Vollenhove, Holland on her way to the final stage of the construction process – her official launch.

At 52m (171’) she is the ultimate expression of personal freedom with six towering decks, making her the largest and most luxurious sportfisher yacht. The downward angle of her profile towards the water is a unique feature of specialist fishing yachts and she is packed with bespoke, meticulously engineered and impressive features.

A team of over 350 craftsmen and engineers have been involved in the project and Royal Huisman is believed to be individual in its capabilities to build such a yacht. We look forward to hearing news of her launch in Amsterdam.

Bilgin superyacht KASIF presents as solid and strong on the outside and seductive and opulent on the inside and is a design collaboration between Unique Yacht Design, Hot Lab and the yacht’s highly experienced owners who have strong maritime shipping connections and are a captain and an architect between them.

First displayed at the 2023 Monaco Yacht Show last September, the 41.9m (137’3”) motor yacht KAŞIF – which translates from Turkish as ‘explorer’ – combines purposeful styling with excellent efficiency, meaning she can offer her owners a 5,000-plus mile range at her economical cruising speed.

“We quickly realised that the preparation and dedication of the two owners – he a captain and she an architect – would require something more than our usual organisational procedure,” begins Enrico Lumini, Partner and Head of Design at Hot Lab. “The entire family is strictly related to the sea and the maritime world, and while the husband oversaw most of the technical matters, his wife collaborated closely with us in creating such a beautiful vessel. Of course, both have influenced us in the design in different ways, but their ideas and support have been crucial for the end result.”

The yacht’s layout, developed by Unique Yacht Design, has an explorer style profile where the interior volume is pushed forward and divides the interior guest space into three key zones. On the lower deck is the guest accommodation, comprising a large VIP cabin, two further VIP cabins and two twin cabins. One deck up is the main saloon and dining area, and then the upper deck offers a second saloon area combined with the owners’ office.

The interior concept, developed by Hot Lab, began with a broad, warm palette and introduces myriad elements by way of bespoke furniture and signature features that complement the interior style and highlight the owner’s love of all things marine including commissions for lighting and artwork.

“The lighting feature in the dining area was produced by Paolo Castelli,” Lumini confirms. “The main idea was to recall the sea, as with the theme of the yacht, and the piece represents a school of fish swimming together simultaneously. The feature piece in the beach club was designed by our team here at Hot Lab before we then commissioned Alex Turco to create it. It is basically an art piece created in resin overlapped with teak stripes, cut in such a way to recreate a wave.”

The sea motif in the entrance is designed to remind visitors of the connection to the ocean. “We created a 3D version of an oceanic fish and made it fully lacquered in a special glossy purple colour with Pirarucu leather in its inner inserts,” Lumini enthuses. “I think that’s something quite special and quite hard to find somewhere else!”

All the furniture is – as is the case with nearly all Hot Lab projects – specifically designed by the studio team and customised to fit both the owners’ requirements and the yacht interior design theme.

“We designed every single piece of furniture you see onboard with a gentle, smooth and extremely organic approach,” he explains.

Superyacht KASIF certainly presents a unique look and feel and one who is perfect for her new owners. We wish them well on their world wide adventures on board their fabulous explorer yacht.