Exploring how the Old Doha Port chart a modern course while staying anchored in its history
At the Old Doha Port, motion flows from past to present. Once a lifeline for traders and pearl divers, it now welcomes luxury marine brands. How does the Old Doha Port chart a modern course while staying anchored in its history?
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00:00Compared to a few decades ago, the old Doha port is quite different nowadays.
00:07But look a little closer and you'll be able to spot some remnants from its heyday.
00:12Ornaments that remind you of Qatar's maritime heritage, from fish hooks to wooden arch doors, dow boats and pearls.
00:21The old Doha port's new era has only just begun.
00:25A vibrant container shipyard, the most instagrammable pastel walls and the host of a prestigious boat show.
00:33I'm Laila Humaira and this is Qatar in Motion.
00:40Did you know that the earliest maps of Doha showed the old port as customs house landing?
00:46Starting operations in the 1930s, the old Doha port was the main gateway of trade for Qatar,
00:52a major lifeline in the country's economic growth.
00:55While the cargo port was retired in 2016, the rejuvenated old Doha port has the perfect recipe for a thriving cruise industry.
01:04In the 2024-2025 season, arrivals jumped 19%, with more than 360,000 visitors.
01:13The port is also casting its net beyond Qatar shores to expand its clientele,
01:19participating at the Monaco Yacht Show and signing partnerships with marinas in the UAE and Turkey.
01:29Well, here we are at the second edition of the Qatar Boat Show at the old Doha port.
01:34As you can see, dozens of boats and yachts have docked with some sailing in as far as Europe.
01:39And it's events like these that showcase the port's commitment to navigate modernity,
01:44but staying anchored by traditions.
01:46The yachts have docked, anchors dropped, and the crowd is hooked.
01:51Some are here to enjoy the atmosphere and appreciate the beauty of yachting,
01:55while others are looking to splurge.
01:58Young and old, big spender or casual enthusiasts, there's something for everyone.
02:04Riding on the success of the first edition of the Qatar Boat Show,
02:09I caught up with the old Doha port CEO, Muhammad Abdullah Al Mullah,
02:13to get his thoughts on the festivities.
02:16Firstly, thank you so much for having us here at the VIP lounge at the Qatar Boat Show,
02:21here at the old Doha port.
02:23The Qatar Boat Show, the second edition this year, it keeps getting bigger and bigger.
02:28What's your take personally on the growth that you've seen of the Qatar Boat Show since the first edition?
02:34Well, first of all, I would like in return to thank you really for being with us
02:38and supporting us throughout our journey, way before even starting the Qatar Boat Show first edition.
02:44So thank you very much.
02:46This edition luckily has been different, I would say, in a positive way in terms of the magnitude of the participation,
02:55whether it's local companies, regional or even international.
03:00Today in this edition, what makes it remarkable that around 505 trademarks showcased by 85 exhibitors from 25 countries.
03:13So this is in itself, I think it's a good and impressive achievement that we have accomplished during this edition,
03:22which will make, I mean, the show itself more of not only a local show,
03:29but it's more of an international and regional as well.
03:34And we're sitting here with the backdrop of these yachts lined up.
03:38What are some interesting highlights of the Qatar Boat Show this year that we've never seen before?
03:44One of them we have concentrated more in this edition to focus more on the spectator, I would say the visitor experience.
03:54One of which is really having not only to focus more into people who really would like to see the sea-related activities
04:03or the people who are interested in buying boats or yachts, but more of a journey itself.
04:09So in this edition we have accounted for different activities, F&B outlets, around 21 F&B outlets within the premises of the show,
04:22where we have collaborated with one of our local societies to come and have the kids do the traditional way of fishing within the show itself.
04:33What are some of the things that we should look out for in terms of, from now, the cruise season and the winter season?
04:41The cruise season will be starting right after the boat show.
04:45We really target our plans to focus more on the international visitors who are coming on a yearly basis through the cruise ships.
04:56So we try to make sure that they live a special experience.
05:01We have done a project lately within the MENA district, which is already having around 50 F&B outlets and 100 commercial retail,
05:15as well as the residential units and the boutique hotel.
05:19We have implemented and executed a project during the summer to cool out the outdoor areas and the main promenade in the MENA district,
05:30to make sure that we have the most comfortable experience for our visitors.
05:38It's easy to see why the Qatar Boat Show is a crowd favorite.
05:42Visitors are able to get up close and personal with some very elegant and sleek yachts.
05:48It's quite a spectacle to behold, especially when you come face to face with this beauty.
05:54I'm aboard one of the biggest yachts brought in this year.
05:57This is Gulfcraft's showpiece, the Nomad 101.
06:01It's one of the newest models in the company's fleet, boasting a high-tech navigation system, the finest interior and four floors.
06:10It also comes with a price tag of almost $10 million.
06:14Still, it's expected to be snapped up this year.
06:17Here we have a lofty villa on the water with five staterooms and the owner's stateroom oversees the water.
06:23So it's on the main deck and offers you a beautiful 270 degree view of the water.
06:29And the idea is, even though this is a lavish vessel, the idea is to provide a home away from home.
06:36Putting a spotlight on luxury and design is one aspect of how the boat show is keeping up with the international yachting industry.
06:44But so is highlighting innovation and sustainability.
06:48Gulfcraft is continuing to invest in new technologies and examining the market for either products and materials that are responding to the ecological need that today exists with our clients.
07:01And also looking to redesign our yachts to minimize the energy consumption.
07:08And that has additional benefits too because then you get a longer range, you get the benefit of staying on board for an extended period of time.
07:18The Qatar Boat Show also puts a spotlight on homegrown companies like Halul Boats, which has been operating in the country well before the arrival of giant cruises and fancy yachts.
07:30And while competition is inevitable as the country grows, Qatari firms that have been built on heritage and tradition feel they'll always have a grasp of local flair.
07:41My name is Ali Ahmed Al-Hatmi. I'm a chief operator at Halul Boats.
07:46We are a Qatari brand, one of the first, if not the first brand in Qatar of manufacturing boats.
07:53So we are trusted. We have a contract with the Coast Guard and the Emirates.
08:00We provide them the boat and the specification that they want.
08:04Everything that needs fiberglass or use fiberglass, we do.
08:09We have boats from 12 feet till 55 feet.
08:14We made a house boat 60 feet.
08:1760 feet.
08:40The W-W-E
08:41It started with the W-W-E
08:43The W-W-E
08:44It was a good job for us
08:46It gave us a good job
08:48And we gave it to the W-W-E
08:49And we gave it to the W-W-E
08:50And we gave it to the W-W-E
08:52We gave it to the W-W-E
08:54The W-W-E
08:55The W-W-E
08:55He was the one who founded the company
08:56For about 21 years
08:58And he still loved the water
09:01And the water
09:02And the water
09:03After that, he came my brother
09:03And he helped me
09:04And he helped me
09:05To improve the work
09:06And I was able to learn from him
09:09To be able to accomplish the work
09:12I felt that it was a very good feeling
09:14When we see the water
09:15And it's a very good feeling
09:16To see the water
09:17And when we see the water
09:17That's the wind
09:19These are the two
09:20When we came down
09:21We received a good job
09:22It was a great job
09:24For the news
09:25For the news
09:26For the news
09:27For the news
09:28For the news
09:29For the news
09:31Like the Kyiv
09:31The Emirates
09:32And the Bahrain
09:33And the Saudi
09:34And this is a good job
09:35And the freedom
09:36And the freedom
09:37For the news
09:37For the news
09:38So as the maritime industry continues to evolve, so will the Qatar Boat Show,
09:52benefiting from the ripple effects of the growth of the old Doha port
09:55from its humble beginnings to the cultural and touristic hub it has become today.
10:01Part of that growth includes going global.
10:04The Qatari market has caught the eye of many international superyacht makers
10:09who see great potential for expanding their clientele here.
10:13Among them is the Italian luxury boat builder, Benetti.
10:17We take the opportunity to announce new models, first of which is the Oasis 42,
10:24and then we have the B-Now 52, and last but not least we have the B-Loft 58.
10:31Qatar has always been strategic to us,
10:33but then again it is a part of a more integrated market, the GCC,
10:39extremely strategic for us, and we are fully committed to contributing with beautiful boats,
10:46but also to contributing to the ecosystem and creating out of this area a hub for yachting business.
10:53The clients in this region are very sophisticated and they are very demanding,
10:58and of course there is a cultural aspect to the brief that they present,
11:02that we listen very actively and we very actively present solutions such as layouts
11:08that accommodate their need, their family need, and we are very proud to have succeeded.
11:14The DNA of Benetti is absolutely excellent.
11:17We bring forward the layouts and design that are out of the ordinary,
11:23but we also work on the technologies,
11:25and we have to make our yachts actually adequate, technologically speaking,
11:30because the persona of our new clients are very savvy, tech savvy,
11:35and they are now younger generations,
11:37and we definitely have to satisfy that site.
11:47Well, we hope you've enjoyed this lap of luxury around the Qatar boat show at the old Doha port,
11:52but that's all the time we have for now.
11:54Thanks for watching Qatar In Motion, and see you next time.
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