UAE-based powerboat manufacturer Al Marakeb said it had registered a two-fold rise in its sales in 2012 and is now planning to launch two new boat models as part of its expansion strategy.

Announcing record growth in 2012, Al Marakeb said local sales increased by 60 per cent while their network of regional and international agents grew, helping to boost export sales to 40 per cent of total sales.

The Sharjah-based company now aims to increase exports in 2013 by signing several more international agents in Africa and Europe besides expanding its office network and hosting key events in 2013

The company has also increased its production capacity by about 70 per cent to meet the demand.

Nour Al Sayyed, the architect and head of Design and Production at Al Marakeb said, “The multi-billion dirham boating industry in the UAE has witnessed a steady increase in demand in 2012. This is an indication of a maturing market and as a result there is great growth potential which Al Marakeb aims to capitalise on.”

Al Marakeb, he said, will soon introduce two new models to their fleet line taking the total to five, while existing best-selling models will see feature enhancements next year designed to increase the appeal and value offering.

"At the entry level, the Habbar 25 will be launched in January 2013. Costing Dh28,000 ($7,621) it is a basic 25 ft unit, simple and practical, especially for fishing devotees."

At the other end of the scale the Scylla35 will be Al Marakeb’s top-of-the-range offering. Set to be released in June 2013, this 35ft long, upscale boat will offer a comprehensive list of features including a cabin, and will be priced at Dh145,000.

In order to meet increased sales and production, Al Marakeb increased its workforce by 50 per cent during the year, he added.

In addition to the new product offerings, Al Marakeb also has several product and feature introductions that the company believes will further strengthen brand appeal.

TheSpartan 25’s basic specs will be increasedsuch as hinges on the back seat bench, a longer and wider console unit – all at no extra cost (Dh38,600). It also gets CE certified (EU Certification for Recreational Craft)for 2m waves.

Additions to Dino 31, Al Marakeb’s best seller for 2012 which saw sales quadruple compared toprevious year, will include among others, a compass and a windscreen,all at the same cost of Dh60,000.

Finally the Triton 35 is an upgrade to the former Triton33, where its gets an access platform with teak wood finish thus increasing it in length, said Al Sayyed.
 
The other supplementary features will be the windscreen, stainless steel bow railing and an upgraded sound system. Maintaining the competitive pricing strategy,the new model will be priced at Dh105,000, he added.

Arselan Ozturkmen, the GM at Sky&Sea Adventures is an owner of five Al Marakeb boats.

"For us the boats tick all the right boxes. They are competitively priced, highly- durable and low maintenance making them a great workhorse for our business which includes boat cruises, fishing trips and different water activities," he stated.

"Moreover, as Al Marakeb is a small company, we get a personal service from the management team, who understand our needs, equating to benefits such as flexiblein-house payment plans, excellent customer service and follow up," he added.

Al Sayyed said, “The demand for our boats is out there, and through constant upgrades, investing into expanding our factory capacity, and a consistency in the services that we provide, Al Marakeb is surely to meet the market demands and perhaps one day have the capability to produce and sell over 300 boats per year worldwide.”-TradeArabia News Service