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29 March 2024

Palm marina berths to be doubled

Published
By Parag Deulgaonkar

Nakheel, Dubai-based master developer, has recommenced booking for berths in Palm Jumeirah and plans to double the berth number in the project, according to a senior company executive.

“The Palm Jumeirah Marina provides 520 berths for boats. We are planning to increase this number to 1,000 in the future,” Saeed Harib, Managing Director, Nakheel Marine & Leisure, told Emirates 24|7.

Palm Jumeirah Marina comprises two marinas: Marina East, which was opened on April 3, while Marina West is expected to open late 2011.

Berths in marina can accommodate various types and categories of boats/yachts from 10 metres up to 30 metres.

Nakheel has sold 50 per cent of the berths, while it still has the remaining 50 per cent, which it plans to lease.

Harib refused to disclose the sale price or leasing rates for berths, saying, “We offer different prices for boats, depending on the length of the boats and services provided.”

The master developer will give priority to Palm Jumeirah residents for boat reservation, but the marina is open to all boat owners across the world.

In 2008, Nakheel had signed an agreement with Island Global Yachting to develop marina facilities for its developments. However, Nakheel Marine & Leisure is currently developing and managing the Palm Jumeirah Marina.

Asked how many residents or investors, who had booked berths earlier had cancelled their contracts, Harib said: “We put on hold berth booking in Palm Jumeirah Marina in 2008 until the marina was completed, but even then we were getting reservation requests. After the opening of Marina East, we are welcoming all our loyal customers and those who wish to join marina to book berths and anchor their yachts.”

Last week, Ali Lootah, Nakheel Chairman, said: “Dubai’s vision to become the tourist destination of choice has resulted in the need for marine and leisure facilities, offered inside Palm Jumeirah. The marine and leisure industry has a competitive market and our aim is to provide a world class marina services with lot of recreational opportunities in an attractive environment, which re-enforces values and creates a relaxing ambience, attracting multi-national communities.”

Although the demand for berths in the emirate has been extremely high, the supply far less to meet the growing demand.

In particular, owners of yachts (20 to 30 metres long) are finding it difficult to moor their yachts.

Industry sources told this website that berths were being leased for sail boats anywhere between Dh25,000 and Dh40,000 per year, while weekly or fortnightly rates ranged between Dh5,000 and Dh7,000.