Festival Marina Celebrates First Anniversary
18 Aug 2008Inaugural boating festival will be hosted at Festival Marina this October
Dubai, UAE (August 18, 2008): Island Global Yachting (IGY), the luxury marina developer and management company, will celebrate the first anniversary of Festival Marina this month, following the opening in August 2007. As part of the celebrations Festival Marina will host the inaugural Dubai Boating Festival this October.
Built, designed and managed by IGY, Festival Marina is a unique yachting destination in Dubai. Located at the heart of Dubai Festival City, on the banks of Dubai Creek, Festival Marina offers convenient access to the wide range of entertainment, shopping and eating options in the surrounding area.
The Dubai Boating Festival, a joint initiative between Festival Marina and Dubai Festival City, will be held at Festival Marina on 24th and 25th October 2008. A celebration of Dubai’s strong maritime heritage, the Dubai Boating Festival is an opportunity for visitors to watch and take part in a series of regatta themed activities including dhow races, dragon boat and jet-boat rides and a historical exhibition about Dubai Creek.
Over the past 12 months Festival Marina has established a reputation as the region’s leading yacht dealer showcase marina with nine yacht dealers and manufacturers represented through a number of top-of-the-range yachts available for prospective buyers to board and see at first hand. The berth occupancy rate at Festival Marina is currently at over 100% reflecting the marina’s prime location and the high quality services that IGY managed marina’s offer.
The Mediterranean inspired Festival Marina encompasses 74 permanent berths with state-of-the-art facilities to accommodate 15 to 35 metre yachts. The custom-designed marina has a number of special features including extra wide pontoons, a helicopter pad and WiFi.
Michael Horrigan, CEO of IGY Middle East and Europe commented:
“It has been an exciting 12 months for Festival Marina as it has evolved into the region’s leading yacht dealer showcase marina. Festival Marina benefits from the prime Creek-side setting and the close proximity of top-end facilities at Dubai Festival City. The Dubai Boating Festival in October will be a fantastic opportunity for boat enthusiasts, sailors and the general public to take part in a marine-themed event which we hope will not only entertain but also educate.”
Phil Blake, Marina Manager of Festival Marina added:
“Festival Marina was created to enhance Dubai Festival City’s waterfront setting, offering an array of amenities for Dubai’s residents and tourists alike. Exclusive features, such as a private helipad and commercial helicopter services available on site, make Festival Marina stand apart from other marina facilities within the region.”
In keeping with its international appeal, Festival Marina will be the only facility in the UAE with quay side mooring as is found in the waterside towns of Europe. This feature allows visiting yachts to moor directly at the Festival Centre’s doorstep, so passengers can go ashore and spend the day at Dubai Festival City. Yachts berthed at other marinas around Dubai will now have more freedom to explore the upper reaches of the Creek.
Overlooking Festival Marina, Festival Centre has become a major attraction for the yachting circuit. The retail resort is home to over 400 shops including 15 anchor stores and 60 restaurants and cafés, a 12 screen Grand Cinemas complex and a Bowling City. The waterfront promenade links Festival Marina to the world renowned InterContinental and Crowne Plaza Hotels and Events Centre and by 2010 the luxurious Four Seasons Hotel, all with prime waterfront views over Festival Marina, Dubai Creek and the city’s skyline.
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Notes to editors
For additional information, please contact:
Greg Moore
or Rebecca Leach at Four Communications
Telephone: +971 55 985 33 75 / 77
Email: IGY@fourcommunications.com
About Dubai Festival City
Dubai Festival City is an Al-Futtaim Group Real Estate development project. Al-Futtaim Group Real Estate is part of Al-Futtaim Group, one of the region’s most progressive businesses with more than 80 years operating experience in Asia, Africa and Europe. Dubai Festival City is a world-class waterfront mixed-use urban community encompassing the finest, easily accessible shopping, dining, entertainment, homes, schools, hotels, offices and leisure in one place.
Dubai Festival City covers 1300 acres and stretches 3 kilometres along the historic Dubai Creek. It epitomizes the thriving and visionary spirit of Dubai. This self-contained metropolis will be the centrepiece of the new Dubai – a progressive urban community offering a lifestyle unmatched in terms of luxury, comfort, exclusivity, convenience, and value.
Festival Centre , a landmark 2.8 million square foot urban retail resort forms the epicentre of Dubai Festival City and promises to be one of the UAE’s most exciting retail, dining and leisure attractions. Festival Centre offers an unsurpassed selection of international and local retail brands, an eclectic mix of restaurants and cafés, including the largest al fresco dining experience in the UAE, as well as a rich variety of entertainment options all within an architectural masterpiece. The shopping centre is connected via the Marina Promenade to three international hotels, an Event Centre and the luxury Festival Marina which will dramatically transform the retail and tourism landscape of Dubai.
In addition Dubai Festival City comprises 8 international hotels, residential communities, two international schools, business parks, automotive showrooms, an 18-hole championship golf course and Four Seasons Golf Club.
About Island Global Yachting (IGY)
From the islands of the Caribbean to the azure waters of the Arabian Gulf and other beautiful yachting destinations around the world, IGY is redefining the very idea of luxury marina experiences. Founded in 2005, IGY focuses on acquiring, controlling and/or servicing luxury-yacht marinas and the surrounding upland real estate properties. Island Global Yachting marinas operate under the signature Yacht Haven Grande collection and the IGY series brands, as well as several private labels.
Headquartered in New York, NY, IGY also has offices in Fort Lauderdale, Florida; St. Thomas, USVI; and Dubai, UAE. IGY is an affiliate of Island Capital Group LLC, a real estate merchant banking firm led and founded by Andrew Farkas, former chairman of Insignia Financial Group.
For more information, please visit www.igymarinas.com.
