From Dragon Boat Racing and Flea Markets through to recycled boat racing competitions and even yoga sessions, Dubai’s Festival Marina is a special place with a host of attractions and events for the whole community to enjoy.

Dragon Boat Racing at Dubai’s Festival Marina

Located on the banks of the Dubai Creek, Festival Marina is a world-class yachting destination that was built and designed by Mourjan Marinas IGY, the Dubai-based company behind the marina developing into one of the city’s most loved lifestyle destinations.

Yoga sessions at Dubai’s Festival Marina

Opened in August 2007 with state-of-the-art facilities, including extra-wide pontoons, quayside mooring and a helipad, the marina has grown to become not only a major attraction for the yachting circuit but also the community at large.

Making it such an attraction is the wide range of events and activities that take place on this prime piece of waterfront, including the annual Dubai International Dragon Boat Festival which has been successfully running for the past three years.

The dragon boat races are a way for families, colleagues and friends to compete, socialize and have a great time together, all mixed in with a hefty dose of adrenaline, sportsmanship, strategy and technique.

There is plenty to entertain those on shore as well; from children’s activities, including bouncy castles and face painting through to volleyball tournaments, plus a live MC providing a full run-down of all the action on the water as it happens to make it a memorable day out for spectators.

The next Dubai International Dragon Boat Festival will be held on April 8-9, 2011

Adding to the wide portfolio of yearly events is the ‘Whatever Floats Your Boat’ recycled boat race, a popular competition that is staged all in the name of charity.

Participation is open to all local companies and schools, with teams building rafts made from recycled materials that can race along the Dubai Creek for a fun-filled afternoon. Teams develop plenty of whacky designs and resourceful recycling in an effort to give back to the environment.

Along with generating awareness of the initiative, a donation is provided by each competing team, with every Dirham raised going directly to the Emirates Wildlife Society in association with World Wide Fund for Nature (EWS-WWF). The EWS-WWF uses the funds raised to support the ongoing conservation of a critically endangered species of turtle native to the UAE. The money raised helps to fund studies of their biology, behaviour and population structure, which in turn helps in the conservation of the species.

Festival Marina has also in the past hosted yoga classes, offering yet more family activity for those wanting to stay fit in the surrounds of the marina whilst enjoying the beautiful waterfront views.

Another popular event at Festival Marina is the Nautical Flea Market (NFM), which has proved to be a tremendous success since its launch last year. The event creates a place where nautical lovers can meet to exchange stories and experiences and where they can find all their nautical needs. The NFM brings together professionals and amateurs alike, giving them the opportunity to directly sell and buy any pre-owned nautical item. Whether it is water sports equipment such as fishing, diving, wakeboarding or boat equipments such as anchors, radars, ropes and outboards through to yachts up to 40 metres, this market has it all.

Matthew Bate, Director of Operations for Mourjan Marinas IGY, said:

“We are proud of the tremendous growth of Festival Marina and the position it now holds within the Dubai community.

“Since its launch back in 2007 we have worked very hard on providing a world-class marina for our customers but we’ve also wanted to develop a hub for the community so everyone can enjoy this great location and its many attractions.

“Festival Marina is now very much a part of the fabric of Dubai and our annual events and activities have grown in stature over the years. We will aim to continue to offer something beyond just a marina and further develop this destination as a place people can connect with and really feel a part of.”

Festival Marina encompasses 74 permanent berths with state-of-the-art facilities to accommodate 15 to 35 metre yachts.  As part of the 2011 Dubai International Boat Show, Mourjan Marinas IGY has announced it is bringing back the “18 for 12” promotion which allows customers to take advantage of 18 months of marina berthing at Festival Marina for the price of 12. The offer will be available to new berthing customers at Festival Marina and will run from March – June 2011. Also re-introduced as part of the boat show is the “Be Our Guest” offer, a deal that allows new customers a month of free berthing at the marina (also ends in June 2011).

The promotions further add to the attraction of Festival Marina, which offers convenient access to the wide range of entertainment, shopping and eating options in the surrounding area.

Mourjan Marinas IGY utilises its design, engineering, management and marketing expertise to benefit waterfronts around the world with the vision to be at the forefront of the maritime industry in the Middle East. The website provides user friendly access for those looking for more information on one of the world’s leading luxury marina companies.