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Dubai (AFP)
Yachts as far as the eye can see at the edge of Dubai’s “Marina”: with the return of tourists, escapades aboard these luxury white boats aboard the artificial lakes in these times of pandemic in the rowdy Gulf emirate.
Wide open to tourists since July 2020, the city-emirate attracts visitors with its restaurants and beaches but also its yachts, at a time when social distancing remains in force.
Since the start of the health crisis, Nada Naïm has been out to sea four times. “It’s more intimate, you are only with your family and friends,” said the 36-year-old Saudi woman who lives in Dubai.
“You feel like you can breathe. It’s like you’ve traveled,” adds Nada, who hasn’t left Dubai since February 2020.
With a horizon of endless skyscrapers and man-made islands, yachts are allowed to operate at 70% of their capacity. Rental companies have seen an increased interest in this activity.
“When the containment measures were relaxed and the situation returned to normal, people preferred something safe and secure with regulations, staying with family and friends,” Mohammed al-Sayed told AFP. director of a charter company, Royal Star Yachts.
Residents and tourists alike dream of “cruises”, of “relaxing”, assures the professional who has worked in the yacht industry for eight years.
– “Increased demand” –
These excursions are not cheap: it takes up to 18,000 dirhams (around 4,000 euros) for three hours on a 42-meter boat, the cost being generally shared by the passengers on board.
Known for its gigantic towers and luxury display, Dubai has the most diverse economy in the Gulf, a region heavily dependent on oil. The financial, commercial and airport center has also developed its tourism sector, with some 16 million visitors per year before the pandemic.
While the country is among the fastest to launch its vaccination campaign, the influx of visitors since the start of the year has allowed many commercial activities to return to their pre-health crisis level.
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“I have seen an increase in demand for boat rentals since March 2021, as some restrictions were still in place in hotels and private beaches,” another manager of a yacht charter company told AFP. .
“We were allowed at that time to operate at 50% of our capacity, and customers were very happy to come and have fun with friends and listen to music,” he says.
– “As on the terrace” –
At the same time, other services, such as food delivery in the middle of the ocean, are also on the rise.
“Getting on a boat is like being on the terrace while being away from the world, with only those you trust,” Jilan Herz, a Palestinian who has lived in the Arab Emirates for more than 30 years, told AFP united, federal state made up of seven emirates.
“It’s also something you can safely enjoy with the kids, going in the middle of the ocean, participating in water activities and taking a good dive,” she adds.
But restrictive measures, such as wearing a mask or minimum reception capacities remain in principle applicable. Some groups have been arrested by authorities for breaking the rules and given heavy fines.
Dubai has been a popular destination for sports stars, such as footballers Cristiano Ronaldo and Paul Pogba or mixed martial arts (MMA) star Conor McGregor. The emirate has also attracted a horde of influencers.
Photos of celebrities on the page or in cocktail bars have flooded social media in recent months, as many wealthy tourists escaping lockdowns across the world have taken up temporary residence in Dubai.
© 2021 AFP
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