BOAT SHOW BOOSTS MARINE HUB STATUS

Millions of dollars worth of water vessels were sold at the Dubai International Boat Show last month, helping to cement the UAE asa world-leading marine hub.According to Helal Saeed Almarri, CEO of event organiser DubaiWorld Trade Centre, the Dubai International Boat Show is a world class,trusted brand attracting over 26,000 regional buyers.He says, “Dubai International Boat Show’s attraction lies in its complete positioning as a lifestyle event offering just what the affluent as well as the marine enthusiasts want … from diving,fishing and speedboats to leisure craft and super yachts.”

VISITORS ENJOY A TASTE OF DUBAI’S CULINARY SCENE

It was a star-studded affair last month when celebrity chefs Gary Rhodes, James Martin and Giorgio Locatelli descended on the city for the second annual Taste of Dubai food festival.The four-day event included a cooking school and demonstrations by Rhodes, Martin, Locatelli and Vineet Bhatia.Twenty-two of Dubai’s top restaurants and the crème de la crèmeof the city’s chefs were present, offering visitors the chance to sample their signature dishes.According to Rhodes, this year’s event was the best in the world.“There are Taste festivals in other parts of the world, but I believe  that this one is the best and [will] keep getting better,” he says.

FANS ROCK OUT AT FESTIVALS

March was a huge month for music as a slew of artists performed throughout the emirate and entertained crowds with rhythmic beats and pumping tunes.English rockers Deep Purple interrupted the sound of revving motors at Dubai Bike Week, which was held at Dubai Festival City,while American rapper Nelly made a little-publicised visit much to the delight of fans at Chi at The Lodge.Meanwhile, almost 7,500 heavy metal fans turned out for the annual Dubai Desert Rock, which attracted bands including Motörhead and August Burns Red.

HOT FAVOURITES TOPPLE IN RUGBY WORLD CUP SEVENS

There were plenty of upsets to keep the 35,000-strong crowd cheering at last month’s Rugby World Cup Sevens in Dubai.After a nail-biting series of matches, Wales reached the final to defeat Argentina and win their first Rugby World Cup Sevens, while Australia overcame trans-Tasman rivals New Zealand to land a historic first-ever women’s trophy.“It was an absolutely outstanding tournament, both on and off the field,” said Kit McConnell, head of the Rugby World Cup. “We saw so many upsets and so many unexpectedly good performances, it was just outstandingly competitive.”

ART SHOW PAINTSA POSITIVE PICTURE

Art lovers were in for a treat last month as some of theworld’s most respected galleries participated in the thirdedition of Art Dubai, the largest contemporary art fair in theMiddle East.Held at the Madinat Jumeirah, approximately 65 galleriesparticipated with those from the Middle East, South andCentral Asia and the Far East exhibiting alongside galleriesfrom the west.John Martin, co-founder and director of Art Dubai, saidthe quality and strength of the participating galleries fromaround the world offered proof of the growing importance ofDubai as a new art market centre.

CLASSIC CAR SHOWS TEERS VISITORS TO DUBAI

Some of the finest classic cars from renowned private collectors in the UAE were on display at the recent Burj Dubai Classic Car Show.Six vehicles owned by rally legend Mohammed BenSulayem, FIA vice-president and president of the Automobile and Touring Club of the UAE, were on display, as well as a rare collection of classic cars from Sharjah Museum.Ahmad Al Matrooshi, UAE managing director of Emaar Properties, the event organiser, said, “The classic car competition is planned to be the most competitive event of its kind in the region and [we hope to eventually] attract motor vehicle enthusiasts from around the world.”Among the rare vehicles was a 1952 Jaguar XK120, the first British post-World War II car to achieve 120 miles per hour.

WORLD CUP A ‘STABLE’ON RACING CALENDAR

There was glitz and glamour at the race track last month as the world’s richest horse race, the Dubai World Cup, got under way in spectacular style.With Dhs22 million (US$6 million) in prize money, the event is one of the most fiercely contested races on the planet.Results were unavailable at the time of going to press, but jockey Frankie Dettori, riding My Indy from the Godolphin Stables owned by Dubai’s ruling Maktoum family, was one of the favourites to take the coveted title.“The Dubai World Cup is one of the biggest events on the international racing calendar. The competition is fierce and we take nothing for granted,” said Dettori.

ARTISTS ATTRACT SELL-OUT  CROWDS IN UAE CAPITAL

Abu Dhabi’s Emirates Palace played host to some of the biggest names in music last month with Coldplay and Andrea Bocelli both performing to sell-out audiences.Italian opera singer Bocelli was in the UAE for the Abu Dhabi Music and Arts Festival,while Grammy Award-winning British group Coldplay made their Middle Eastern debut as part of the Viva la Vida tour.According to John Lickrish, managing director of Flash, promoter of both concerts, Coldplay is one of the biggest bands in the world today. He says, “To have them play their first ever Middle East gig in Abu Dhabi is fantastic for the city and the region.”