Marina projects in UAE set to double this year
The Dh200 million worth of marinas currently under construction in the UAE are set to double this year, according to the CEO of Dubai-based Septech, one of the region's leading water infrastructure and engineering specialists.
The company announced yesterday that it had renewed its existing partnership agreement with Bellingham Marine (BM), the world's largest and most experienced marina builder. The existing partnership agreement has been renewed for a minimum of 10 years, with an automatic renewal for an additional 10-year period, based on a tenure of executing successful projects throughout the Middle East.
David Heffernan, Septech CEO, said: "Waterfront developments add at least 30 per cent value to developments and set them apart from their competitors. The UAE represents the fastest growing marina market in the world today. There are an additional 50,000 berths to be put in the water this year. It will also enable Septech to leverage our recognised expertise in developing and improving the region's waterfront environments and coastal developments."
The renewal of the contract comes at a time when Septech is undergoing significant expansion and has cemented its position as the leading manufacturer and engineer of marinas within the region.
"Septech's marina division has grown many times over in the past three years of operation and currently has a GCC market share of approximately 75 per cent," said Mal Esfandiarinia, Septech's Marina Project Manager. "Septech has exceeded industry standards by achieving 200 per cent year-on-year growth for the past two years."
Everett Babbitt, President of BM, said: "The UAE, with its long natural shoreline and enthusiasm for waterfront activities, represents a marvellous opportunity for our companies. Our partnership with Septech has proved extremely successful primarily due to the company's expertise and first-hand understanding of the region.
"In addition, Septech's range of capabilities and extensive product portfolio has made them our chosen partner in the Middle East. The renewed contract now covers the UAE, Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Yemen, marking a new stage in what is already a very valuable partnership."
As part of its agreement with BM, Septech will manufacture and install the highly regarded Bellingham Unifloat concrete pontoons and proprietary floating dock systems – both reportedly user and environment-friendly. A three-and-a-half year study conducted by BM has confirmed the products' commitment to environmental sustainability, with the findings proving that marine life, including algae thrive in the sheltered environments provided by the concrete pontoons.
"The study was a global marine capability enquiry carried out in multiple marina climates. The results were unanimous, regardless of climate, size and location. Bellingham's pontoons support the local ecosystem, providing a foundation on which marine communities can develop," said Heffernan.
Septech has recently been awarded a Dh50m contract to design and build the Dubai Yacht Club Marina, Dubai Marina Mall Waterfront and West Marina in Dubai, with several more local and regional projects in the pipeline. In total, Dubai Marina will house four marinas, with a total of approximately 550 berthing spaces for vessels as big as 110 feet.
"Septech has a number of high-profile projects to which it will contribute in the near future. Our focus remains on the GCC, specifically on the Northern Emirates and Abu Dhabi where the rate of development is nothing short of phenomenal. To date, we have contributed to the overall success of multiple waterfront developments including the Palm Jumeirah's Atlantis and the Festival Marina at Dubai Festival City. In the coming weeks, we will be able to disclose a new project that provides a facelift to one of Dubai's iconic locations," said Heffernan.